Would You Like to Go For a Sail?

That's what my friend Wilson asked me, manysailboat, rapidly moving away from Wilson and
years ago when our boys were young. Wilson, hisJay, with no other boats around, and absolutely
son Jay, my son Will, and I all piled excitedly intono experience sailing anything other than the little
the small sailboat. We put on life jackets andboats in my bathtub when I was a kid.
raised the sail for our trip across Long Lake.Luckily, Wilson is a strong swimmer, and was able
When we got across the lake, we would meetto yell instructions to me at the same time he
our wives and the other children for a picnic.made sure Jay was safe. He talked me through
All went well until we got to the middle of theeverything I needed to do to turn the boat
lake. The breeze was cool and fairly strong,around, and to sail it close enough to them so
refreshing on a warm summer day. We madethey could grab a rope and pull themselves back
good progress, following Wilson's directions foraboard.
when to move from one side of the boat to theWhen they were safely in the boat, Wilson smiled
other, and when to watch for the boom swingingat me and said with a chuckle, "You know, you
around. We sailed toward our picnic at a good clip.could have just dropped the sail, and we would
Jay leaned over the bow, letting the water runhave swum back to the boat."
over his hand.How many times do we find ourselves thrown
Then, as quickly as one, two, three, it happened.into danger that we are not prepared for? You
One, Jay leaned too far and fell over the side intocan't be prepared for everything that happens in
the middle of the lake. Two, Wilson dove out oflife, but I know this. I signed up for a sailing class
the boat and swam toward Jay to make sure hethe next week.
was safe. And three, Will and I were all alone in a