Genesis 15:5 “and he brought him outside and said, look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them” Then he said to him “so shall your descendants be ” and he believed the Lord; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

It was a few weeks after 9/11 and I boarded a ship who’s crew consisted of Egyptian and Indonesian seafarers who were denied shore leave. Because of this, there was a police car at the foot of the gangway with all his lights flashing signaling these seafarers could not leave ship.

I went on board and signed in, then went to the crew’s lounge bringing cell phones and phone cards, and also made myself available for anyone who wanted to talk about the past event and the impact that it had on them. The crew members were happy I brought phones and phone cards so they could contact loved ones at home. The entire crew was denied shore leave even though they all had a US Visa.

Soon after, the chief mate came into the lounge and sat next to me. In a very angry voice, he asked “Why was the U.S. holding his ship’s crew as prisoners since they all had US Visas?” He pointed his finger at me and said, “Why do you even bother to come on board to see us, when we have nothing in common?”

It was clear to me that his anger and frustration was justified, yet his statement that we had nothing in common surprised me. I thought for a long while and then said to him, “I can understand your frustration and anger. Yet you are incorrect when you say we have nothing in common.” He repeated again this time vehemently saying, “NO!  We do not have anything in common!”

A few moments passed and I asked him if he knew who Father Abraham was?He answered,” Of course I do.” So I continued to say that you and I are buried deep within the heart of Abraham which makes us brothers and sisters, all children of God. After a long stare the Chief mate asked me if I would join him in the crew’s mosque where he offered prayers in Arabic for forgiveness regarding his anger and frustration. He then asked me to say a prayer. I asked him if he knew the Lord’s prayer and he said yes.

After the prayer, he asked me to join him for lunch. The chief cook served this wonderful stew. I was looking around for the knife and fork when the chief handed me a piece of flat bread. When I finished that delicious lunch my shirt was full of gravy.

The chief walked me to the gangway hugged me and said “My brother thank you for all you do for my crew in this difficult time we are in.”

Today the Chief is now a master of a ship and, I do see him from time to time when the ship comes into port. On those days, I bring a large napkin with me!