Faith, Fellowship, and a Dinghy Delivery: Time Aboard SV Selah
There’s a unique kind of joy in stepping aboard the floating home of friends—especially when those friends are a faith-filled family living out their calling on the water. Our recent visit with Aaron, Laura, and their three kids aboard their 47′ sailing vessel Selah in West Palm Beach, Florida, was one such joy-filled experience.
They were in the middle of their first major shakedown aboard Selah, having moved her from North Carolina with hopes of spending the winter and spring in Florida—and potentially the Bahamas. We didn’t set sail during our short visit, but we got a beautiful taste of life afloat.
Tim, myself, and the girlsI stayed two nights aboard, graciously given their forward cabin while their whole family bunked together in the aft. One night we even slept in the cockpit under the stars—an experience both humbling and holy. Another night, we cozied up on the salon benches, the gentle rocking of the boat lulling us to sleep.
Our visit had a practical purpose: delivering a much-needed new dinghy/tender. After a few months on the water, Aaron and Laura’s old dinghy was no longer holding air—a major issue when your dinghy is your car. They had a replacement shipped through West Marine, and we were happy to receive it and bring it to them. But the provision didn’t stop there. Thanks to a recent motor deal Tim had secured for his own tiny boat, a connection was made, and Aaron and Laura were able to get a reliable new motor for their new tender at a great price.
Provision met purpose, and both were covered in God’s timing.
But our favorite part wasn’t the gear—it was the gathering. Our families shared rich, meaningful time together: meals, beach trips, laughter, and conversations that pointed to God’s faithfulness. The kids got sandy and sun-kissed while the adults soaked in the fellowship that comes from walking a similar path of mission and faith.
God also used an unexpected inconvenience to show His care in the details. Upon returning from the beach one afternoon, we noticed a newly arrived boat moored uncomfortably close to Selah. With the wind and current, it became clear that staying put wasn’t safe. Aaron had no good options to re-anchor nearby, so we pulled anchor and motored south to a new, safer anchorage.
It felt like a letdown at first. We had hoped to dinghy ashore for dinner that evening—but plans changed.
While underway, the engine temperature began to rise. Then the alarm sounded. Thankfully, we reached the new anchorage without damage, but it was a wake-up call. After some troubleshooting, Aaron and Tim discovered the culprit: a failing impeller. By God’s grace, we were there to help, and the issue was resolved the next day.
Looking back, we couldn’t help but see the hand of God in it all. That awkwardly anchored boat? It nudged Selah to a place where the engine’s weakness was revealed before they attempted their passage to the Bahamas. It was a divine inconvenience, a reminder that God’s timing and provision are always perfect.
As Selah prepares for her next leg of the journey, we’re deeply grateful for the time we had together. Whether floating under Florida skies or parting ways with hugs and prayers, time with this crew is always special and treasured.
Fair winds, dear friends. May God guide you, protect you, and continue to provide in every wave and whisper of the wind.
