I was the engineer on a small sand dredger working in the Bristol Channel. The MV Rhone was a converted Dutch freighter and carried about 300 tons of sand or aggregate which we dredged at sea for building. There are no quarries in South Wales from which sand can be extracted, but there were several sand banks suitable for dredging. Although small by marine standards the Port of Swansea had dubbed us ‘The Mighty Rhone’ because we had paid the most Dock Dues of all their customers. She was Newport owned but Swansea was our home port and in good weather we would sail and return on each tide twice a day.
There came a time when we needed to Dry Dock and it was to be in Gloucester. So we set sail up the channel, under the Severn Bridge where there is the second greatest rise and fall of tide in the world. Fifty-five feet on a Spring Tide. Second only to Newfoundland, so it can be dangerous water. To approach the locks at Bridgewater correctly means having good local knowledge of the tides to arrive on time and making a 270 degree turn to port to prevent being swept away. Once through the locks it is a very pleasant journey up the Gloucester Canal to the Basin which is not far from the town centre.
We were berthing about 4 pm on a Sunday and I was thinking how nice it would be to get to a meeting. So I asked the Lord if He could guide me to a meeting. He said quite distinctly, “Go to the Gate and follow the red car.”
So, when we had finished and washed up, I set off on foot to the dock entrance and looked for a red car. I saw none at first but soon I realised that all the red cars were heading south, out of town. So I crossed over and walked south. The first junction was with Saint Peters Road. “That’s good enough for me,” I said, and turned off left. Then I came to a Tee junction. To the left I saw sunshine and a green park. But to the right was very dark and gloomy. I decided that to the left would be the way but wanted to see why it was so gloomy to the right. As soon as I turned my steps got heavier and it did not take long to see why. Saint Peter’s was a Catholic Church, and it was a dark sooty looking building. Obviously not where He wanted me. So I turned back and just beyond the tee junction I saw on the right an open door and there was a meeting in progress.
This sense of His guiding became a wonderful lesson on guidance, not just to me but as a testimony to others. Test each move and decision by the peace of God in your hearts.