The Captain’s Log

Principle #2
The Cross before Us

To me, sailboats have always maintained a certain mystic. They have unique characteristics that set them apart from other vessels. Let us pause for a moment and consider one element of a sailboat—the mast. The standing rigging of the sailboat supports the mast—the tall metal pole that rises from the center of the sailboat and towers over the vessel. The basic purpose of the mast is to carry the mainsail. As the sail absorbs the wind, the mast stands tall and strong like a lighthouse on a rocky cliff.

As we look from the bottom of the mast upward, we notice the mast intersecting with the spreaders, and a cross is formed. On a sailboat, the cross is always before us. I found it amazing and crazily coincidental that the cross on the sailboat is supported by something called the stays (forestay, backstay). As we embark on this journey of rediscovering God, and as we revive, restore, and review our leadership and work, let us focus on the cross and let us stay close to Him. Jesus deserves nothing less.


Is the cross central to your leadership?

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 NIV)

And he that doth not take his cross is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 ASV)

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. (Matthew 10:38 NLT)

Nautical Chart

The Christian hymn “‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” originates from India. The Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh is given credit for the lyrics based on the last words of a man named Nokeng, who gave his life for the cause of Christ. Today, this song is the song of the Garo tribe of Assam, India.

As the story goes, in the mid-1800s, through the teachings of several pronounced biblical scholars, there was a spiritual revival in Wales, in which many came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. From the revival, missionaries arose, and many traveled to India to spread the gospel.

The hymn is the story of the salvation message reaching a man and his family, who were part of the Assam tribe. The Assam were an aggressive, head-hunting people and not generally accepting of outsiders. The family’s conversion led many others in their village to the acceptance of the gospel message.

The chief was very displeased when he learned of the impact the gospel message was having on the tribal village. In his fury, he ordered the man and his family to come forward and renounce their faith or face immediate execution.

As the family stood before the angry chief, they remained strong and resolute in their acceptance of Christ. The tribe’s chief demanded the man and his family renounce Christianity. The man stepped in front of his wife and children and stated softly, “We will not.” He began to sing the song that is now a famous hymn: “I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

The chief was enraged and ordered the immediate execution of the man’s children. Arrows flew from the bows of his tribe’s warriors, and the children fell to the ground. As the children lay dying, the angry tribal leader arose to his feet and again demanded the man renounce his faith. “I will not,” the man spoke with resolve. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he continued to sing. “Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back.”

The chief was completely aghast at the man’s resolve, and he ordered the immediate execution of the man’s wife. Again, arrows flew. She grasped for her husband’s arm as she fell slowly to the ground and died. The chief was now screaming for the man to renounce his faith. With his wife and children lying dead in the dirt next to him, he continued to sing—and as he sang, it was as though the message was being heard throughout the tribe. He sang knowing he would soon be joining his family. “The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.”

In the next moment, the man was struck down. As he drew his last breath a miracle happened. The tribal leader fell to his knees and began to weep. After what seemed like hours, he finally stood tall and with tears streaming down his face, he addressed the tribe. “Today we have seen a family with strong faith. Why would a man, his wife, and children be willing to die for this Jesus that lived so long ago? This is a story of great faith. A faith that surely saves us all. Today I want to meet Jesus and be as devoted to Him as this man was. May their God become my God. May their God become our God.”

He, along with the entire tribe, was transformed! “I belong to Jesus Christ,” he announced. That day the tribal leader and the entire village accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.

On the Water
As I wrote this book, I wondered if I should leave out faith and allow myself to consider writing about the leadership principles without using biblical guidance or references. In the end, obviously I couldn’t because my faith is the artery through which all wisdom and creativity flows. For if the cross isn’t before me, then I am off course. As I transitioned through the various stages of my life and work as a leader, my faith provided me with an endless portion of wisdom, insight, love, compassion, caring, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. God’s provision was supernatural, beyond any explanation. My life experience is perhaps why believing is so easy for me; it’s what happens in and to a life in which the cross is before all else.