In the article 'Easter Sunrise' I included a picture of a sunrise over the Manacle Rocks. This a notorious reef off the east coast of the Lizard Peninsular in Cornwall, near to the village of St. Keverne. Many ships have been lost on them because at high tide just those shown in the picture can be seen, three almost insignificant peaks. Perhaps the most well known wreck was the Mohegan, which foundered in 1898 with the loss of 107 lives. See the web site www.st-keverne.com/History/Mohegan/mohegan-shipwreck.php for more details. Though at high tide just three peaks are visible a view at low tide shows the real extent of the reef, with many jagged rocks spread over a large area, well able to hole a large boat sailing into them. Though the reef is so near the surface there is a deep channel between them and the shore, sailing boats avoid this area as the wind and tide can make for a dangerous passage in such a confined space. However the local fishermen in their powered boats can often be seen amongst the rocks, they know them well and with suitable conditions ply their rods and lines amongst the peaks, and divers descend to the depths to search for bits of wreck and examine the fauna and flora.

Near to the Manacle reef there is a stone quarry, now closed, but which was active for many years while I was living near by. A great deal of the stone was shipped out in bulk carriers of up to 2000 tonnes, these loaded at a jetty in a small bay using an overhead conveyor belt. Pilots from Falmouth navigated the boats in and out of the harbour, the boats being filled on a rising tide to avoid their being grounded in the shallow water. I often stopped to watch the boats leaving if I happened to be walking by at the time, the South West Coast footpath runs through the quarry workings. It was a delight to see these big craft reverse out several hundred yards then turn within their own length using special side thrusters at the bow. Usually they would go straight out and round the bell buoy marking the reef before turning towards Falmouth to drop off the pilot. However I have seen the pilot take a ship between the shore and the reef, they knew the passage so well that they could avoid the shallow ground near the shore and also the lurking rocks which were hidden by the high tide. A fairly sharp turn before reaching Porthoustock took them out into Falmouth bay having saved a detour of many miles.

This makes me think of our navigating a path in life. Jesus said that we must take the narrow way to life with God, avoiding the broad way which leads to destruction. Just as the captain of the stone boats need an experienced pilot to navigate in the tricky waters round the Manacles we need a pilot to help us navigate the hidden rocks of daily life. That pilot is Jesus and the word of God.