Longing for the Chair

OK...call me strange, or melancholy, but I must give you a slight peek into my thought life.  Today my mind strayed--while driving in the fog--to a recent development in the lives of my "TV" friends on the Discovery Channel reality show, The Deadliest Catch.  Now, for those of you who do not know what this show is--either you think TV is a sin or you can't stand a man show--I will give yo the short version.

The Deadliest Catch is about Alaskan Crab Fishermen who fish during winter on the Bering Sea.  It is a brutal job.  I don't know any of these people personally, but after several years of faithfully watching the show I feel that we are close friends.  This brings me to my fog thoughts.  Today I remembered the death of Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie, who passed away while filming this years season on Feb. 9th.

Captain Phil was near death with blood clots two seasons ago.  He spent time in the hospital during filming and was doubtful in coming back for 2009.  Matter of fact, he was told that getting back in the captains chair was a death sentence.  Blood clots are nothing to play with and the extremely long hours in that chair didn't bode well!  But Phil couldn't stay away!  The chair called him every day with a deafening roar!  He had to go back--his destiny was set--he'd die in that chair!  He didn't actually die in the chair--but he was on the boat when the final blow (a massive stroke) took its toll.  Phil decided that the experience in the chair was worth the price---he was only 53!

Do you feel that strongly about anything?  Is there anything calling for you?  Something that no matter what the price is for the experience, you're willing to pay it.  You know, those dreams that people will despise you for reaching after!  Those God ideas that test the metal of your faith because many don't understand the why!  I made my first mad dash for the chair in my life several years ago.  I had people saying, "Don't get in that chair or you'll lose everything!"  I, like Captain Phil, realized that NOT getting in that chair was losing everything!  I realized that if I didn't follow my heart, if I didn't make some drastic changes, if I didn't pursue the dream, that I would not experience everything God had for me!

Boy, am I ever glad that I made that choice!  My life is blessed and I am enjoying the chair!