Original Nautical (Christian) Poetry: By A Very Small Helm

Doctrine And Covenants 123:16

You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

By A Very Small Helm

By J. Brad Chapman

It’s said, my good friend, that a very large ship

Is aided and served oh so true,

By the very small means of a very small helm

I’ll explain, as I’ve plied the big blue.

You see, a large ship sideways to the wave

In a storm becomes a great sail

And when the ‘ol wind starts to blow fierce enough

The great ship will broach and then fail.

Seawater pours in and the ship starts to sink

And the crew will cry out in shear fright

And then they’ll slip under with prayer on their lips

That rises and meets heavens height.

But that very small helm on that very large ship

Could have saved the drowned and doomed crew

If she’d only been steered to keep her work ways

To the wind and the waves of big blue.

If the bow is held straight to the billowy blasts

No matter how hard the wind blows

The ship will slice cleanly through tempest and storm

And she’ll reap what the wise Captain sows.

So what do we learn from the plight of this ship

That sunk in the watery realm?

We learn that by small means great ships can be saved

In this case, by a very small helm.

Some people think their efforts are small

And give up their cause with a sigh

But we know that by small means great things come to pass

By those who are willing to try.

So as the sky darkens and the storm gathers strength

Grip the helm tight and steer straight

Keep the ship work ways to high wind and wave

And by small means do that which is great.

______________________________


James 3:4
 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Alma 37:6
But behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

D&C 64:33
And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

D&C 123:15
Let no man count them as small things. ___________________________________________

I have been intrigued by the two scriptures that mention a "very small helm" since I obtained my captain's license back in my early 30's.  Back in the early 2000's, while I was delivering a high speed ferry from Sitka, Alaska to New York City,  I had the opportunity to tour the Aircraft Carrier on the Hudson River in New York City. It was the USS Intrepid. I stood at the helm and grasped the wheel and was in awe at how such a small wheel could turn an absolutely enormous Aircraft Carrier.

Original Nautical Poetry: The Least of These

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mathew 25:40

This is a poem that I wrote with inspiration from Psalms 107: 23 - 31.

I also composed the background music and perform it on a Martin 000C Nylon Stringed Guitar.

Psalms 107: 23 - 31
23  They that go down to the sea in ships,
that do business in great waters;
24  These see the works of the Lord,
 and his wonders in the deep.
25  For he commandeth, 
and raiseth the stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof.  
26  They mount up to the heaven,
they go down again to the depths:
their soul is melted because of trouble.
27  They reel to and fro, 
and stagger like a drunken man,
and are at their wits' end.
28  Then they cry unto the Lord
in their trouble,
and he bringeth them 
out of their distress.
29  He maketh the storm a calm,
so that the waves thereof are still.
30  Then are they glad
because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto
their desired haven.
31  Oh that men would praise  
the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works
to the children of men.


The Least Of These
By Captain J. Brad Chapman

A ship arrived in port one day, through heavy seas, and gale. 

some say the safe return was due, to skills at helm and sail. 

They say the captain, brave and true, steered through the mountainous waves,

and kept them all from drowning deaths, and lonesome, watery graves. 

Three cheers they called, lets lift him high, and carry ‘im down the plank, 

and show him heart-felt gratitude, in honor of his rank. 

But the Captain waved their praises off, with head bowed to the ground, 

he asked if they would lend an ear, curious they gathered round. 

You see, my crew, it is quite true, I skipper you good men, 

but I do not control the waves, nor direct the savage wind. 

It’s He, the master mariner, who kept us from the grave, 

and held us in his hallowed hand, it’s He, ‘’mighty to save.’’     Alma 34:18 

And as your Captain, whom you hold, in highest of esteem, 

I must confess, amid redress, I’m not quite what I seem. 

You see, I am ashamed to say, for some time I’ve been lost, 

and drifted on the sea of life, alone, and tempest-tossed. 

But after all sad wanderings, I’m fi-nal-ly at ease,

because a mate showed me the way, I was His  “least of these.”    Mathew 25:40 

He cradled me in kindness and, shared with me His love, 

He guided me, o’er treacherous sea, and blessed me from above.  

And now my eyes are opened wide, and yes I see His light. 

No more to be a blinded guide, I look towards heavens height.     Mathew 15:14 

It wasn’t me who brought us through, but our Almighty Lord! 

So honor Him who lends us breath, it’s Him to look toward.       Mosiah 2:21 

.  .  .  .  .  .

So trust in Him, out on the deep, as you sail the briny breeze  .  .  .  .

and praise Him who’s “mighty to save” .  .  .  .  . and serve His  “least of these.” 

March 25, 2012  -  By J. Brad Chapman

Original Nautical Poetry: Stick To The Chart

The poem,"Stick to the Chart" has JESUS SAVIOR , PILOT ME playing in the background. Played on guitar by me.


Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.                                
                                  2nd Nephi 32:3



This nautical poem came from a true life experience. I was captaining a 100 passenger high-speed ferry from Sitka, Alaska to Victoria, BC, where it would be loaded on a freighter for Miami, Florida. From Miami I would pilot it up the eastern seaboard to New York Harbor for a company called New York Waterway. In Queen Charlotte Sound we ran into heavy fog and the poem started to sprout when my crewman asked me, "can you see where you're going?".  I carefully made my way through the sound by keeping a close watch on the nautical chart and the radar. I would see where the channel buoy was on the chart and then find it on the radar screen. It was slow going and tedious but it got us safely through the fog. My trusty binoculars where vital in order to locate the next marker buoy and keep on the correct course. Remember that maps are called charts in the nautical world.

Stick To The Chart

 By J. Brad Chapman

"Can you see where you're going?", he called to the bridge;

the fog was as thick as a curtain.

"Can't see a thing",  came the voice from the helm.

"I'll stick to the chart, that's for certain."

The chart gives directions to steer the ship true,

through dangerous shallows and gaps.

When sight is obscured, visibility gone,

we trust in the use of our maps.

Scriptures like maps , will show us the way,

through sheer rocky passes and storms.

They guide us safely through tempest and trial,

to where it is sheltered and warm.

Like the sure captain, do you stick to the chart,

when the course turns foggy and gray?

Or do you despair, when you cannot see,

and murmur and whine in dismay.

God grants us faith when we stick to the chart,

to weather the worst of the storms.

And He grants the spirit as we brace to the wind;

it comforts us, guides us, and warns.

So when sight's obstructed and you've drifting off-course,

and you can't see your way through the squall.

Look to the scriptures; the Charts of the Lord.

Be bold, show faith, and stand tall.

And if ever you ask, "which way do I go?",

when the course is obscured, dim and gray.

Grip tight to the chart, and sail out in the wind;

God's already charted the way!

JESUS  SAVIOR PILOT ME
John Edgar Gould (1822 - 1875)

Jesus Savior,  pilot me,
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach'rous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee.
Jesus Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey Thy will
When Thou sayest to them, "Be still!"
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus Savior,  pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
"Fear not, I will pilot thee."