Sailing away from the Island of Settle

Sailing away © K. Hall

As captains of our crafts, we have questioned our purpose, and have been curious about our destination. We have wondered-or hoped-that someone or something else was in charge, and that they would provide the direction. All we had to do was sit. And wait.

Ultimately, though, whether or not we were prepared to admit it, we have been at the wheel, and somehow, we ended up on the Island of Settle.

We may have been drifting along, concentrating more on keeping the boat upright than on moving forward, when we scraped against a beach, and decided that it would probably be fine.

We may have been piloting ourselves to the security of a harbor-any harbor-knowing we may not get to live the life of purpose that God intended for us, but at least we would be safe.

We may have spotted a pier, and thrown our rope around a support post, hoping that THIS was the place where we would find that nameless thing for which we had been searching.

The problem as I see it is that too often we are willing to disembark at this little plot of land because it appears easier, more comfortable and convenient than doing the real exploring to discover the true fit for our lives.

When we take this path of least resistance, we can sense that the match isn’t there. Our boat may not fit into the slip. The natives may not appreciate our faith, optimism, and new ideas. The general climate and nourishment may not agree with us.

In spite of those signs, the temptation is to stay. The siren voices seduce us, reminding us that there probably isn’t really anything better out there, and why go to all that trouble and expose ourselves to danger, and that we’ll get used to it, and that hope is overrated, and that we just need to stay put and make the best of it.

Well, I believe it is time for each of us to ignore the lies, provision our boat, throw off the ropes, and navigate back into the open waters with a plan and a prayer, and we will leave the Island of Settle behind, with a fresh breeze at our backs, an attitude of humble expectation, and God leading the way.