...other meditations

anchors aweigh

picture this: you're in a top-quality sailboat traveling across a cooperative ocean to a wonderful destination. the course is set and the weather is more than favorable. the strong winds fill your sails and the sun warms your face. with a refreshing, deep breath, you and your sailboat are on the adventure of your life! just when you are experiencing total bliss, you discover that the seas have become uncooperative, your sails are tearing, your boat is taking in water and you've lost all sense of direction. (ooops!)

truthfully, i have felt like this from time to time. one tiny seed of selfish ambition, apathy or doubt can cause a whirlwind of trouble for anyone's journey. we bob aimlessly in a sea of confusion, only to wonder why we're not making progress. paralyzed in a holding pattern, our goal becomes so distant. when the fear of drifting backward creeps in, we drop the anchor and bring everything to a halt. what is one to do?

in these troubled times, we often forget two very important things: we forget Whose ship it is we're sailing in and we forget Who the Captain is. first of all, the ship belongs to God. usually, when we act on our own will and take hold of the controls, we tend to settle for less, become too comfortable in the flow, and take credit where credit is not due. it's as if we're saying, "God, i don't need You. i've got it covered." when we've reached this point, we've already lost sight of Him, our Captain of the ship. what we need to do is take our hands off the helm and trust God to lead and direct us.

trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. proverbs 3:5,6

with God at the helm, we can enjoy the blessings of our journey, and also receive the strength and courage to get through the rough times. you may be embarking on a new journey or just revisiting familiar territory. whatever it may be, place it in His hands today. trust in Him and He will guide you, safely, to your destination.

fellow first mate,

tamara