Ten Minutes Too Late

For more than a month, I had been awaiting the arrival of a cargo vessel to ship auto parts to my brother who lived on another island in the Caribbean.

Despite the holiday freight confusion, I finally found the contact information for the port authority. When I called, the attendant informed me the vessel had finally arrived, and it would depart at 5:00 p.m. that day.

I felt I had enough time to get to the dock before 5:00 p.m., so I followed my day’s schedule: I taught my two classes from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., then followed up with other previously scheduled activities that necessitated fulfilling various duties and keeping some appointments. As I moved from one activity to another, I remained very cognizant of the 5:00 p.m. departure time, believing that I had a lot of time before heading out to the dock. I concluded my final assignment at 3:50 p.m. before driving toward the dock. I was very pleased that I had accomplished so much.

I was also relieved that the package would soon be on its way.

At 4:40 p.m., I stopped at the chained entrance to the port authority, and in one glance, I saw the vessel with its crew moving about, some even looking at me. I informed the guard of my mission and prepared to drive through and deliver my cargo, but that was not to be! He informed me that the boat had received its last cargo at 3:30 p.m.; it had already been checked out, and it was about to depart.

My entreaties were in vain. I looked longingly at the vessel whose door was about to be shut —only one hour and ten minutes— I was too late! In my disappointment, I thought of another scenario where ten maidens had been waiting for the bridal party at a wedding, but five of the maidens had not equipped themselves with enough oil in their lamps, which made them leave to buy more oil.

When the bridegroom came, they had not returned, and the door was shut. They could not attend the wedding for which they thought they had been prepared. Sisters, I pray that we will always be prepared, being alert to the signs of the time, and have our lamps filled with oil and the wicks trimmed. I pray that our heavenly Father will keep us faithful, ever alert to the signs that point to the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus, so that we will be ready to enter with Him.

Valerie Knowles Combie