Flotsam and jetsam are not everyday terms. Technically, they refer to specific kinds of shipwreck: flotsam (from a word originally meaning ‘to float’) is the floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo, whilst jetsam (from the word ‘jettison’, meaning to discard or throw away) is part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is purposely cast overboard or jettisoned to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore. Lagan is another technical word (rarely used nowadays) which refers to cargo that is lying on the bottom of the ocean, sometimes marked by a buoy, which can be reclaimed.  These words, once used frequently in the 17th century, for example, are not used as much these days and the two words are usually found together, but clearly had different meanings originally, and even now there are differences, for jetsam becomes the property of the finder while flotsam continues to be owned by original owner and marine salvage rules apply to both.

flotsam and jetsamflostsam and jetsam HawaiiI can’t remember where I first encountered these words, probably in some pirate novel or narrative about an adventure on the high seas. The similarity in sound between the ends of the words mean they go together well and a secondary meaning of ‘useless and discarded objects’, ‘odds and ends’ has been added over the years.

The idea of jettisoning cargo in times of distress is found in Jonah 1:5 and Acts 27:18. The principle of jettisoning cargo is obviously to lighten a ship’s load. and insurance companies reimburse the owner of the dumped cargo because his cargo was sacrificed to save the ship and the rest of their cargo; the captain has the right to act in this way because of the greater need of the ship. The whole principle of jettisoning rests on value judgments, however. What we choose to keep and what we choose to jettison matters. It was with great reluctance that the other sailors threw Jonah overboard (Jonah 1:7-15) because they recognised the value of a man’s life in comparison to inanimate objects.

Paul warns us against those who ‘made shipwreck of their faith’ (1 Tim 1:19) by not holding on to faith and a good conscience. Life is made up of choices every day. Many of these choices seem insignificant to us, but we have to learn to distinguish between things that are truly valuable and things that can be jettisoned without affecting our eternal souls. There is a ruthlessness required in the life of discipleship; we have to take up our cross daily and die to self; we have to count the cost, as Jesus warned us (Luke 14:28-33, see Rend Collective’s ‘The Cost’.) Sin is deceitful and often that which we prize so highly turns out to be not worth the effort of holding tightly in the long run.

The consequences of flotsam and jetsam in the natural world are obvious. Ocean debris accumulates at the centre of  ocean gyres and on coastlines. Flotsam and jetsam found in oceans include anthropogenic artefacts like fishing nets, balloons, plastic bags, wastes from cruise ships, oil rigs and so on. Biomagnification is the most profound and evident effect of marine debris.

Far more worrying, though, are the consequences of spiritual flotsam and jetsam, when God’s people discard the things that are really important to spiritual growth or hold on to things which are only temporal. 2 Cor 4:18 reminds us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, which is temporary, but on that which is unseen, since this is eternal. That requires a daily sifting of priorities and a careful listening to God’s still small voice which helps us to prioritise. As Matt Redman reminds us, ‘All that really matters is You.’