Old men have told fantastic stories about ancient Polynesian pilots—men who would get into boats not much larger than a canoe, launch into the ocean, and travel thousands of miles through treacherous waters to a tiny pin-prick of an island in the midst of a vast ocean.
Because of the impossibility of the task, these stories seem more like folklore than truth. But there have been those who are intrigued that such a thing is possible. In 1970 a group enlisted the help of one of the last remaining Polynesian pilots and made the attempt to reenact this remarkable feat.
They set out from Hawaii, hoping to reach the Tahitian islands, 2,500 miles away.
Miraculously, 30 days later—without the help of navigational instruments—their little craft reached the sands of a Tahitian island beach.
How? The pilot had studied the heavens so thoroughly that by looking at the stars, he knew where he was and the direction he needed to go. He knew that if he set his sails and held a steady course, he would reach his objective.
In a sense, we are like these Polynesian pilots. We are—each of us—on our own great journey, hoping to find a safe harbor.
Though we often feel lost and without direction, we are not left alone. Our loving Heavenly Father has not left us to wander in darkness. If we will look heavenward, He has provided a kindly light that will guide us in our own journey so that we too can reach our own safe harbor.
Program #3963