One very difficult channel near New Zealand was called the French Pass. This channel, which is not very wide, has some of the strongest tides near the island. The first time a ship from Europe tried to go through the French Pass was in the year 1827, and they had quite a time of it. When the ship reached the narrowest part of the pass, the tide pushed it sideways so hard that it couldn’t be steered. The ship smashed into rocks twice, before getting pushed across the top of a reef and into the bay. The French captain of that ship, who was no doubt quite shaken up by his experience, later wrote that—except in cases of extreme emergency—no one should try to go through that pass.

In the years that followed, many ships did sail—or at least try to sail—through the French Pass. Even though the channel was considered to be one of the most dangerous around New Zealand, it took the ships where they needed to go. At least, some of them. Sadly, many ships did go down in those treacherous waters. Nobody kept track of how many, but some think that there were at least 14 large shipwrecks there—and perhaps many more—during the 1800s alone.

Once, when a ship named the Brindle was sailing through the French Pass, a dolphin started bobbing up and down in front of ship. For some unknown reason, a few of the sailors wanted to shoot the dolphin. Thankfully, the ship captain’s wife talked them out of their unkind deed. Then, to the surprise of everyone on board, the dolphin swam ahead of the ship for about 20 minutes—guiding it safely through the most dangerous part of the channel.

The dolphin, who the sailors named Pelorus Jack, apparently liked his new job. For the next 24 years, Pelorus Jack met as many ships as he could when the ships got to the most dangerous part of the channel. Then he bobbed along ahead of the ship, guiding them through to the safer waters beyond. Although there were other shipwrecks in the channel during that time, no ship that was guided by Pelorus Jack was ever shipwrecked or lost.

The sailors, who felt much safer when guided by Pelorus Jack, soon began looking for the dolphin every time they came by. If the dolphin didn’t appear, the ship would stop, toot their horn, and wait until he arrived! Soon Pelorus Jack would appear and swim alongside. He would lead the ships safely along the right path, sometimes even circling or nudging the boats away from hidden rocks.

For more than 24 years, this amazing dolphin guided hundreds of ships safely through the French Pass! Like a guardian angel to the sailors, Pelorus Jack helped protect them from harm. His He devoted his life to helping his human friends who wouldn’t have made it alone.

In the Bible, God has promised to give each human an angel to guard and watch over them. Psalm 91:11 says “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Pelorus Jack guarded and guided the ships much like an angel!

Just as Jack used his talents to serve mariners, God calls each of us to help others too. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” We all have special gifts and abilities!

Today’s Action Plan:

Thank God for sending guardian angels to guide you just as He sent Pelorus Jack.

Draw a picture of Pelorus Jack guiding ships to remember God guides you too.

Share Pelorus Jack’s story and talk about ways you can use your gifts to help others.