Missing the Boat: How We Overlook Life’s Biggest Clues

“Waiting for the Sign” and What Happens When You Miss It

You’ve probably heard the story.

There’s a man stranded on a rooftop during a flood.

He prays, “God, please save me.”

Soon, a neighbor offers him a ride in a rowboat.

He declines. “No thanks, God’s going to save me.”

A rescue team comes by with a motorboat. Again, he declines.

A helicopter lowers a rope. Still, he refuses.

Eventually, the man drowns.

In Heaven, he asks, “God, why didn’t you save me?”

God replies, “I sent a rowboat, a motorboat, and a helicopter. What more were you waiting for?”

Now, we laugh because we see ourselves in that story.

So many of us are waiting for a particular kind of sign ,one wrapped in sparkles, trumpets, and divine neon. We tell ourselves that if it doesn’t come that way, it must not be the answer.

But signs don’t always come in the packaging we expect.

Sometimes the answer shows up as a friend inviting you to coffee.

Sometimes it’s a job you feel overqualified for — but it’s your way in.

Sometimes the sign is your own fatigue, your own peace, your own inner “no.”

We miss the signs not because we’re blind , but because we’ve trained ourselves to only see certain colors.

And Then Comes the Moment You Realize: You Missed the Boat

Let’s talk about that moment.

The gut-punch. The pit in your stomach. The “Oh no… I waited too long.”

Maybe you knew you should have left the job.

Maybe you stayed too long in a friendship that shrunk your soul.

Maybe the door opened, but fear sat heavier than your readiness.

So you stayed. You doubted. You waited.

And the boat left without you.

Here’s what doesn’t get said enough:

That grief is real.

That “I missed it” moment is painful.

And for many people, it can spiral.

We fall into withdrawal.

Throw ourselves a pity party.

Convince ourselves we’re too late, too old, too messed up.

We “throw in the towel,” but what we really need to do is wring it out.

Take a breath. Let the disappointment be what it is ,without letting it define who you are.

Because here’s the truth:

Life doesn’t run out of boats.

My personal philosophy?

If you miss the door, the window will open.

If the window jams, you better believe I’ll grab a hammer and make a whole new door.

That’s the power of resilience ,and it’s available to all of us.

Sometimes the Sign Is That It’s Time to Walk Away

One of the most difficult truths we avoid is that some signs are actually invitations to leave.

To release the thing we’ve outgrown.

The relationship you’ve prayed would change.

The job you’ve contorted yourself to fit.

The friendship you’re always the one saving.

Sometimes the sign is: This is no longer yours to carry.

We cling out of guilt. We stay out of loyalty. We confuse “long-term” with “lifelong.”

And when it comes to family ,whew.

That’s when the signs can feel the hardest to follow.

But as Dr. Maya Angelou reminded us:

“Respect is not owed because of age. It is earned.”

You are not disloyal for setting boundaries.

You are not selfish for wanting peace.

You are not heartless for choosing healing.

So… What Are You Waiting For?

Are you waiting for the burning bush?

Or are you ignoring the bush that’s been smoldering for months?

Are you hoping for a perfectly timed sign, or are you discounting the three you already received?

Look, you don’t need a choir of angels.

You just need to listen. To trust. To move.

Because if you’re reading this , the next boat is already on its way.

Don’t miss it this time.

And if you do ,know that the harbor still has your name on it.

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