Hi. My name is Dave.
Welcome to The ANTEO Story
This model tugboat named Anteo was built over a time span of 40 years and out of those years, comes a story to tell.
Please join me for the anteo story
As told by a boat builder
She was purchased as a kit in my teenage years (RI). Her build started, then Anteo was forgotten about through my 20's (NY). She was brought to me as a comfort during a life storm once (CT), then twice (WA). Here, her early build mistakes are revealed at Wooden Boat Building School. Anteo is celebrated. Her overhaul begins. Her hull replanked, broken pieces of keel mended, deck beams reworked. More life storms come. She is put aside again. This time a falling window fan damages Anteo's majestic pilot house. Her brilliant search light is mangled, delicate railings broken off, and her roof trim torn away. Shortly after, Anteo journeys with me back to NY. Her damage is repaired and many lost parts replaced. She now rests quietly on display for all to see as she was built to be, but look closely and you will see the damage her elegant search light now bares.
"Anteo... what a life you've seen. Broken and battered in oh so many ways. Put aside you must be. Life is calling. Yeah for me! Years gone by. Once, now twice my rescue, calm in life. Oh, the cost you pay. Brilliant brass bent and torn away."
About this boat
This model tugboat named "ANTEO" is not just a boat, but a story of how God has stayed with me through life storms. The storm of divorce in particular.
~ TRUTHS I LEARNED FROM ~
4 marriages and 1 addiction
- Jesus stays
- God knows me better than I know myself
- God never gives me more than I can handle
A letter from God (copied)
"I have to reshape and remold you ... To renew you to what I had planned for you to be. It has not been easy for you or for me."
Anteo... what a life you've seen.
A message from The ANTEO Story
My heart goes out to anyone who is going through the storm of divorce. I know how real the loss is, but I also know that without Jesus I never would have stepped foot on the road to recovery and healing. There is hope for you too! Take a look at the hope found in the bible verse I left for you below my contact info. God can be trusted!
Dave Eckler
Email: anteotug@yahoo.com Phone: (603) 320-9403
Personal well-being
What does it mean to me?
Personal well-being. What comes to mind? I suppose the phrase must be defined within each of us before the question can be answered by each one of us on a personal level. A good friend of mine has been reminding me lately to be kind to myself during difficult times and sure enough, life stress piled up enough for me to feel my personal well-being put in harm's way. Personal well-being has come to mean taking care of my health in three major ways; spiritually (My relationship with Jesus), emotionally, and physically. Have you taken an interest in your own personal well-being while in the midst of a current life storm? The storm of divorce in particular.
What to do during times of loss
1.) Stop (Don't run away)
2.) Recognize what it is that I am feeling
3.) Allow myself to experience these feelings
4.) Sit, and be still
5.) Allow Jesus to replace loss with an intimate expression of Himself
Removing Jesus one piece at a time
Removing Jesus one piece at a time happens slowly and subtly; for if Jesus was removed quickly, I might have noticed. One piece at a time can be as simple as taking reminders of Jesus off the walls (One favorite thumbtacked scripture verse on a cork board, pictures of Jesus, etc...) or as complex as being with a person who is not interested in God's love. The enemy was hoping I would forget who Jesus is by removing Him one piece at a time when I had chosen the complex way.
Unforgiveness
"Unforgiveness took more away from me than what I was holding onto."
Took away Holding onto
1.) Peace in my heart 1.) anger
2.) Hope for joy in life 2.) hurt
3.) Freedom to grow / heal
