Growing up on an Island I heard many nautical terms used in everyday life. One I heard a lot was " stay the course. " When I was in trouble or in doubt I would be told, you must stay the course. It was explained that if you had chosen the correct course you may meet with some misfortunes along the way, but in the end you would reach your destination. I expect this came from the old days when vast areas of the world were unknown, especially the sea. To venture off the course was to invite disaster. You may become lost and wander aimlessly about. You may run aground. You may even sail off the edge ! Staying the course was a wise move.
Of course we had the adventurers. Those that just couldn't stay on course. Those that returned told exciting tales. And there were those that never returned, but we didn't talk about them. We have a habit of talking about successes and forgetting about failure. The most difficult decision of all is, what course to take ? Growing up we are told what course would be best for us. Parents,siblings,friends and counselors all trying to influence the course we take in life. Most are well meaning and a few may be self serving. Ultimately the choice is ours. Or is it ? If you are a believer in fate or destiny was not your course set at birth ? In that scenario we are merely the vessel, destined to stay the course. The destination would be unknown and only the journey counts. But by what power was this course set ? God ? Doesn't seem likely as I believe he has given man free will. Included in this gift would be the ability to change the course. To adventure out on your own. But to do so, is to invite disaster. That presents a bit of an enigma. One of the apparent contradictions in Christian theology. But it is not so, for we have been given the choice to invite that disaster. To leave the course. We have been provided the chart necessary to complete the journey. It has been written down for hundreds of years. One need only study it. Frequent reference to the chart will guide us through the journey. Our destination is eternal life. That is the promise. It is up to us to journey well and "stay the course. "
Of course we had the adventurers. Those that just couldn't stay on course. Those that returned told exciting tales. And there were those that never returned, but we didn't talk about them. We have a habit of talking about successes and forgetting about failure. The most difficult decision of all is, what course to take ? Growing up we are told what course would be best for us. Parents,siblings,friends and counselors all trying to influence the course we take in life. Most are well meaning and a few may be self serving. Ultimately the choice is ours. Or is it ? If you are a believer in fate or destiny was not your course set at birth ? In that scenario we are merely the vessel, destined to stay the course. The destination would be unknown and only the journey counts. But by what power was this course set ? God ? Doesn't seem likely as I believe he has given man free will. Included in this gift would be the ability to change the course. To adventure out on your own. But to do so, is to invite disaster. That presents a bit of an enigma. One of the apparent contradictions in Christian theology. But it is not so, for we have been given the choice to invite that disaster. To leave the course. We have been provided the chart necessary to complete the journey. It has been written down for hundreds of years. One need only study it. Frequent reference to the chart will guide us through the journey. Our destination is eternal life. That is the promise. It is up to us to journey well and "stay the course. "
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