Nowhere is Always Somewhere

It was Day 2 of our vacation, as we cruised toward the  Western Carribean, when  Zoe  and I were finishing breakfast on the cruise ship. I watched her gaze out of the window and saw her face as she saw nothing but water.  

“We are in the middle of nowhere” she announced to me and to the the other 5 strangers who were dining with us at our table.  

We all laughed at Zoe’s outspokenness and her  astute observation.  Which way was North?  Which way was South?  Where was East and West?  None of us knew exactly.

After all we were only passengers on this ship.

On our way out of the dining room we estimated how long it would take us to get to our destination, Jamaica. I leaned over and said to Zoe.  “You know what...I think that we are in the middle of somewhere, we just have no idea where “somewhere” is. She agreed.

Without  landmarks, without signage, without seeing what’s familiar, it’s  easy to think that we are nowhere.  I’ve felt like that before.  

Am I on course to fulfill “my” dreams, “my” goals,  how close am I to “my” destination?  We look at the situations and circumstances around us as leading indicators of our progress. And when those leading indicators are not easily recognizable and easy to interpret we feel unaccomplished, wasteful with our time and talent; we feel low.

I would suggest that much of our frustration in life comes from confusing our role, with God’s role.

On our annual family vacation, as we board the ship headed to exotic destinations, we are all ready to go on holiday and we are all clear on our roles as passengers.  

We are to enjoy the moments.  Take advantage of the opportunities. Try and learn something new.  Experience culture and diversity of people.  Appreciate impeccable service.  Respect others and ourselves.  Follow the rules,  and of course trust the captain of the ship.  

We are also clear on what our job is not. Our job as passengers is not to know where we are every nautical mile of the sea. Our job is not to know the inner workings of the ship. Our job is not to know how the captain does what he does.

Our job is to simply trust that the captain knows our location, even when we are not sure,  and to trust that he will get us to our destination  on time.

This vacation,  I made a new commitment to trust God with this “Life” ship though I am  presently unclear of where I am,  I’m certain of the destination and  I’m confident in who’s steering me.  I know I’ll get where I need to be  if I consent to the course, and I’m psyched about the breathtaking beauty I’ll behold when I get there.