Pull Anchor

Have you ever taken a cruise?  I never have.   If I ever take one I know that I’d be secure and trust in the fact that there’s a captain running the ship.  Imagine booking a cruise without a captain, no structure, nobody in charge.  Would you take that trip? 

Imagine your life as a ship on the ocean. Are you just a passenger on your ship, or are you the captain?  Are you steering in new directions? Or is your ship anchored in shore just drifting…going with the flow and going nowhere fast? 

If you choose to be the passenger, your ship is going to remain stuck in the same place.  Passengers don’t pull up the anchor…it just keeps digging deeper into the rutted sand.    

On the other hand, if you’re the captain you can pull anchor and steer your life into new and exciting places.  Yes, you will face many obstacles…it’s just life.  But the captain learns how to avoid such dangers.   He may steer around them or hit them head on to clear them out of the way.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been the passenger for too long now. I’m promoting myself to Captain of this ship.  I know it will take work and consciously reforming old negative thought patterns.  But, I’m done sitting back and not steering my own ship.  I think I’ll be a yacht…..a big one!

If you think about it, a passenger has no control over where they go.  So, if you are content to be just a ride-along, you’re at the mercy of which way the wind blows.  Worse yet, at the mercy of whoever you allow to steer you where they want you to go.  Let no one but God and your heart lead you to your purpose.

But, that takes so much work we whine…it’s so easy to feel down and unmotivated.  Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like you don’t want to do anything at all?   Just sit back and let someone else steer you?  I know it happens to me, so I’m sure someone out there knows how I feel.

I doubt there’s anyone that hasn’t had those days and are content to just dig deeper into their safe little ruts.  Do you really want out?  Do you know the signs of being so stuck that you can’t even see the signs?

Well, here are few signs that your anchor may be stuck.   

1. There’s not an ounce of motivation in you.  Even if you want to be creative or take on a new project, you just can’t get excited about it.  So, you don’t do anything.  Finding the motivation seems overwhelming to you.  You continue in your negative frame of mind.
2. Each day is exactly like the day before.  You even have trouble remembering which day it is.  Your ultimate goal for the day is just to get through it. 
3. You desire change, but it’s easier to stay the same.  The temporary discomfort that comes with change scares you.  You risk failure and judgment (in your mind) if the change doesn’t go well.  You stay in shore…no risk of failure.

Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day?  Every morning Bill Murray wakes up is just exactly like the one before.  He gets so frustrated.  Once he realized he was doing the same thing over and over, he began changing just a little bit day by day until things got better for him.  Then his life went on and he was a better person for it. 

That’s how we need to look at life.   Let’s change at least one thing every day.

Pull anchor and break your negative cycle and continue to take one step at a time….forward.  What will it hurt…do one new thing every day.  It doesn’t have to be a big deal.  It could be as simple as talking to a stranger…showing kindness.  Put some fun in your life.  Join a class, take a walk, and enlarge your surroundings.  Be creative.

There are so many opportunities on this vast ocean of life.  Take charge! You can choose to Captain your ship and add meaning to your days.  You’ll have new reasons to get up every morning.  Stop being content with just being passengers…promote yourself to Captain.

Be spontaneous!  Surprise everyone and don’t be afraid to do the unexpected.  Choose to run the day or let the day run you. Carpe diem….

My thankfulness cannot be expressed that His mercies are new every morning!  He’s my ship’s Admiral.  I may be in charge of my ship, but He’s in charge of my life.  I’m good with that.  I trust Him to show me the way I should steer. 

“Let this day bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.” Ps.143:8