A couple of months ago I was fascinated to read about potential ghost ships sailing around the world. A South Korean shipping company was in dire straits and unable to meet financial obligations, which resulted in port authorities banning 70 container movers and 15 bulk ships from unloading their cargo. According to major news outlets, the company’s fleet were currently carrying cargo worth $14.5 billion, while the company owed half a billion dollars. The ships were stranded outside of 50 ports in 26 countries all over the world. While waiting for a solution the crews were running low on food and water.
The few English-speaking crew members and passengers onboard were bombarded with questions from companies enquiring as to how their cargo was doing. One of them said that her favorite question came from an American company asking for the state of a cargo of frozen french fries. It summarized the ridiculousness of the situation. She went on to relating the powerlessness and desperation that arose from waiting at sea for a solution, all while knowing that the people onboard had no influence or power to change anything.
Imagine being so close to the shore that one can see it, but still being stuck at sea. Envision what it would feel like to realize that you are carrying enough value to settle your financial obligations, but having to watch your precious cargo get spoiled or destroyed, leaving you in even greater debt. Can you fathom the utter stupidity of running low on food and water, all while being questioned about the cargo of french fries? (I hear you: how could they be running low on food while carrying fries that were about to get spoiled anyway? My thoughts exactly, until I realized that they couldn’t easily access those containers until they had docked and unloaded.)
This is not a political statement; I am not accusing anyone of fraud or neglect. It’s not about South Korean shipping or worldwide port regulations.
It’s about being stuck at sea with the promised land within reach.
It’s knowing that you are carrying valuable cargo that is not yet reaching its destination.
It’s living with the vulnerability of being underway.
I love finishing projects and moving on to the next one. The minute I’m done with something, I am really, truly, and absolutely done with it. I’m happy to fix my eyes on the next goal and focus my attention on getting there. I try hard not to leave any loose ends because I hate going back to pick up the pieces of unfinished business. I am determined to learn from any experience – good or bad – because I can’t stand the idea of repeating it. If I could decide my life’s journey it would most likely go in straight lines from one point to another and so on. I would probably avoid the mountains as well as the valleys and settle for a safe and secure route. It would be wonderfully predictable and utterly boring.
But life’s not like that, is it? At least mine isn’t. Most of the time I’m on my way to some unknown destination that I can sense more than I can actually see. I’m drifting along the coastline of hopes and dreams, contemplating what’s ahead of me without knowing how to get there. Other times I know perfectly well how to get to my point of destination, but then life happens. Family, friends, work and church happen. Picking up groceries, getting the car serviced, dropping by the school with the left behind lunch. Divine appointments while waiting in the line to pay for the parking, or getting unexpected news that make me pause and lean in. Good ideas pop up that easily override my original ones. All of a sudden my neat plans and schedules are suspended in time, only to be continued or scrapped further down the road.
My journey may not go in straight lines, but I have come to like it. Looking back, I can easily see how the forced pauses and detours have prepared me for what was ahead of me. The message I carried was never spoiled, only refined. Someone traded my debt for eternal life. I am free to live, love and keep on sailing.
Did you come to an involuntary halt? Make the most of it. Breathe. Love. Lean in. Get charged. This is not in vain. Make sure you spend your time well.
Are you running full steam ahead? Enjoy. Don’t miss out on the scenery. Maintain your heart soft and pliable. Honor the one who sustains you and keeps your engine running.
Did you just dock? Are you ready to release whatever you are carrying? Look out for the one that went ahead of you. Keep in mind that this is just one of the many harbors that you will reach on your way to your final destination.
As Moses told Joshua:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid;
Do not be discouraged.
Deut 31,8 (NIV)
Be strong and courageous, where ever you are on your journey. You are not lost. You’re found.