Lord Make Our Churches Like Cruise Ships

My wife and I decided that it would be the perfect time to sneak away for a 10 Day Christmas cruise around New Zealand and then across the ditch to Sydney.  In Sydney we spent the day enjoying all the sights and sounds of thousands upon thousands of people gathering there to see the main sights like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.  Most where making plans to stick around and see the world renowned Sydney fireworks on New Year’s Eve but we had plans to get back to Auckland and take in a nice quite turn of the calendar.  All our children were spread around the globe during the holiday season, Mackenzie back in Canada enjoying family and friends and some really really snowy cold weather.  Paige is in the UK with her boyfriend Alex’s family, enjoying the ancient world around them as well as a few sporting events. Danae was with her fiancée and his family in the hot climate of Brisbane and eating the wonderful Indian cuisine that is part of the Moodley heritage.   That left just Cheryl and I and it was the perfect window of opportunity to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in style and so we climbed aboard the Sun Princess for 10 day of pampering and some much needed R&R in cruise ship style. And what a style that is!

From the moment we stepped on board we were surrounded by friendly faces welcoming us and making us feel like we were the most important people on the planet.  They were not just friendly and welcoming but they were helpful and courteous and keenly interested in what we needed as passengers. Each person on board had a specific area of concern.  The one who looked after our room would visit it up to 3 times a day to “freshen” it up and sometime in the afternoon he would go in and put little chocolates on our pillows just to make us feel special.  The stewards in the coffee shop, on each part of the deck and especially in the main cafeteria were constantly coming by to refresh our ice water cups or coffee cups or remove the dirtied dishes or inquiring if they could bring us something we wanted.  All with a gracious smile and an easy going manner and treating us like we were the only people they were serving the whole time.  They remembered our names, they remembered our preferences, and they even sang happy birthday to those around us who celebrating that special occasion on board.  The ship was also very festive compete with all the Christmas season lights, balls, trees, wreaths, music that played all the familiar tunes that surround the joyous season, and several opportunities to gather to sing Christmas carols, hear a Christmas message, and rejoice that a saviour had been born to us all. 

I started to wonder about the similarities between cruise ships and fellowships.   Without going overboard on the comparison I wondered if perhaps churches could learn a few things from cruises. Friendly, eager to serve, each one playing their part, all seeking the very best for those around them and ready at a moments notice to show care and concern for anyone who needed it. Music and a joyful celebratory atmosphere enveloped the whole place lifting spirits and helping us enter into the experience.  Everything was done for a worthy cause.  After all isn't that what the Apostle Paul recommended in Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, and also in 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another and finally in Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Yes, I believe we all need to pray, Lord make our Churches like cruise ships!  Amen.