After The Work

Sailing a ship requires knowledge and discernment of the winds, waves, landmarks, and the stars. In older times before GPS, sailors would embark upon the waters with sometimes uncertain lands ahead of them. They would consult a map or chart, plot a course, and use the skies, winds, and water currents to make their way across the world. If no map were present, all the more exciting… and dangerous.

Writers of scripture and other works sought to provide guidance through life’s waters, be they calm or troubled. Our nature as people sends us forth thinking “I got this” or “I must go out alone”, not understanding that our emotions are like the waves; they roll and change in uncertain ways. Embarking upon life without guidance has proved foolhardy; we try, we fail, or perhaps we get lucky and succeed at our goals–however, this approach does not produce sustainable results. It is like sailing to find your own island, but not learning the winds, the waves, or the skies. You may land safely once, but not reliably.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” While using “paths” instead of “waters”, the lesson is the same. God gives us directions to assist in charting our own course through life. We won’t find specific answers to “which job should I get, A or B?” but we can find guidance to discern which would bring the most life to yourself and others. Submission to God’s direction is less about how he makes us feel and much more about how we can rise above our passions and fears and see clearly the waters ahead.

Discernment requires trusting God enough to act based upon his guidance. If we are called to adjust our sails and do not, we are more easily blown off course. It requires humility to admit the God of the Universe knows the way better they we do. It calls us to “submit” or follow God when our nature disagrees with him and our way will be made straight. It means we are to master ourselves so that we can truly think and act based on thought and choice rather than our emotions, which can change like the waters. Having peace in our decisions is like slicing through troubled waters, confident we are on course.

Discerning the times calls us to look upon ourselves and others in light of the person and work of Jesus. How would he love? How would he listen? Would he show mercy or be moved to violence? Hearing the words of others, do their actions align with their beliefs? How do we know when an opportunity is actually temptation? If the decision before us is driven by our or others’ human nature then we need to readjust our sails and orient towards the the babe in the manger marked by the Star of Bethlehem.