Finding The Courage To Cast Off
In the quiet moments, maybe under a starry night, you ask yourself,
‘What do I want to do?’ And things pop into your brain. Huge things.
Frivolous things. Ambitious. Selfish.
And we start to analyse. Is it realistic? Is it worthy? I it meaningful?
Is it nonsense?
We judge our small seed, our silly aspiration. The world is burning
and why do I want to do this…frivolous thing? Surely I should do
something more grownup, something more unselfish, something…
more. Unless I can save the world, what’s the point of even
starting? Is this what God wants?
Amazing Grace… That Saved A Wretch Like Me
Imagine the creation of "Amazing Grace" in the small village of
Olney in the 18th century. John Newton, a former slave trader
turned clergyman, penned the words that would inspire generations.
Newton’s life was a testament to redemption and the transformative
power of grace. His journey from a tumultuous past to a life of purpose echoes the sentiment that our most profound callings often
come through surrender and faith.
I like to imagine that people criticised him, maybe he even criticised
himself, for writing silly little hymns. And he did it anyway.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
Newton’s hymn emerged not from a place of certainty but from a
place of humility and openness to divine guidance. It's a reminder
that even in our moments of doubt, something extraordinary can be
born if we listen to the whispers of our hearts and the divine.
And stands as the most record hymn of all time, with over 6,000
covers. Literally millions have been inspired by it. Maybe saved by
it.
Sailing To Grace
Sailors have always been beacons of extraordinary feats. Take
Joshua Slocum, the first man to sail solo around the world, before
anyone had done it. Or Jessica Watson in our time, who at 16
circumnavigated the world alone. Their journeys were filled with
scepticism from onlookers, yet they defied the odds through sheer
determination and a belief in their dreams.
These mariners, much like Newton, listened to an inner calling that
many deemed unrealistic. They faced storms, isolation, and the vast
unknown, yet they persevered. Their stories are not just about
sailing but about the courage to embark onto a sea fraught with
uncertainty and challenges. They remind us that the impossible
becomes possible when we move forward, no matter how small the
steps.
Surrender To Receive
Breakthroughs come when we least expect them. At 42, I resigned
myself to the idea that having a family of my own would never
happen. And I had willed and efforted. In a sense, a long series of
girlfriends were auditioning for a part in my family production. No
wonder they didn’t work out. But the moment I let go of this, when I
said that maybe this won’t happen for me, I met Olivia. It was a
profound lesson in surrender – understanding that things happen in
God's time, not our own.
This surrender isn't about giving up; it's about making room for
divine timing and intervention. It's about trusting that the universe
has a plan, even when it diverges from our own. When we
relinquish control, we often find that the very things we longed for
come to us in ways we never imagined. Effortlessly. Unfathomably.
Miraculously.
Don’t Judge Your Dream
You should do thing that ignites your spirit, that keeps you awake at
night, that calls you. Whether it's a creative pursuit, a new venture,
or a personal goal, these passions are whispers of your true path.
They are what God places in your heart to guide you.
Yet, fear often holds us back. We doubt our capabilities, worry
about the unknown, and hesitate to take that first step. But
remember, God doesn't guide moored boats. You must cast off to
give God a chance to fill your sails and take you somewhere.
Have The Courage To Cast Off
Be open to others – they are the vessels through which God
provides help. He inspires people and sends them to you. Often
they don’t even know why God is nudging them. But think about it,
what else would he use?
But you must initiate the journey. The tiniest steps, taken
consistently, puts you in new situations. Trust in the process, listen
to the divine whispers, and let your dreams be your True North.In the end, it’s about faith – faith in yourself, faith in your dreams,
and faith that there is a purpose in your life. Our modern age is a
battle. Humanity’s enemy whispers that life is meaningless, that you
are a chemical process run amok, that there is no purpose,
meaning or virtue to anything. Whereas it’s written, “To every thing
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A
time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up that which is planted;”
Everything is meaningful. Everything has purpose.
So, cast off today. Embrace the whispers of your dreams, trust in
God's timing, and dare to pursue what sets your soul on fire. The
world is waiting for the brilliance you have to offer. Cast off the
shorelines. Launch.
Luke 5:4 (KJV): "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto
Simon, 'Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a
draught.’"
To remind that you are always guided and that you need to cast off, that you need to launch, we have created this long sleeved shirt. And it may even inspire someone else when they see you in it!
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