Choose your ship
A six point sermon based on Philippians 3:12-16:
1) Dream (I haven’t had a dream for a while – or at least a dream that I’ve been able to name. The longing is there, I’m just not really sure what it is for.)
2) Grow (I need to grow spiritually quite a bit. Devotion is near to non-existent.)
3) Let go (I always think I have nothing really to let go of, but then I remember that I hang on to my own failures much too tightly.)
4) Don’t quit (I’m pretty stubborn, and tend not to quit – but I sure tend to complain about it a lot.)
5) Recommit (To start again, or maybe even to just start.)
6) Reward (I really don’t count my blessing enough. I wonder what happened to my ‘unbridled optimism’?)
Building your life is a lot like building a boat. The larger the vessel you set out to build, the steadier and more constant your course will be. To build it right, it will take much effort, planning and resources in the beginning, but once realized, it’ll be steady through the greatest of storms, and can leave from port for months at a time.
With a large ship, it’s also much harder to change course at will. To keep things from flying off of the deck and upsetting your cargo, you have to plan ahead. You may have to wait until you’re in broader waters, taking time to slow your engines, plot your bearings, and coordinate a change of direction.
On the other hand, if you choose to remain in a smaller, more agile vessel, you will have the luxury of being able to turn on a whim. You can weave in and out of rivers and streams whenever the moment strikes. But you won’t be able to sail the deeper waters of the oceans, you might easily capsize in the wakes of others, and you may find yourself without refuge or safety in the slightest of storms. There are pros and cons, and yes, seasons for both, but it’s ultimately up to you to decide what kind of vessel you will build with your life.
Quarter Century Crisis, Relevant eZine
