The Mayflower and the Speedwell
By Mike Janton

Two ships were commissioned,
Precious cargo to bear.
The seeds of a nation
God's hand would prepare.

These ships you may know
Called Speedwell and Mayflower.
On them pilgrims and strangers
Set forth the same hour.

A moral herein
May be found if you wonder
At the names of these ships.
Take a minute and ponder...

One ship returned back
To old Plymouth, you see,
For leaks in its vessel
Meant it was not to be.

But the other pressed on,
Fought through sickness and gale.
The souls below deck
Tossed and turned and grew pale.

Yet faith replaced fear,
And New Plymouth drew near.
If you're asking what lesson
Can I glean from this tale?

Well, I'll tell you this moment;
Yes, I will without fail.
One ship bears a name:
Speedwell, one would think,
Would get you there quickly,
Straight shot, in a blink.

But if in this life
We'd brave the dark grief,
God's lovely May flowers
Give His pilgrims relief.
In them we can glimpse,
Dim light though it be,

A brand new creation
Where we will be free.
One day we will land
After much weary sailing.
He'll take us in hand,
Not a word of our failing.

We'll see of Him then
As He sees us now.
"Well done," He'll proclaim,
As we wonder how
We made it across
Such a forbidding sea.
'Twas the blood of the Cross
Made it possible for thee.