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A Man’s Voyage – Part Four

by Garret Barbush | President & CEO

In October 2016, I was sitting along the waters of the San Diego Bay in Coronado, CA. I stared out across the harbor to downtown San Diego, intrigued by the volume of boat traffic in the harbor. I watched boats, both small and large, sail in and out of the harbor for hours. 

Later that evening, a mentor, Tim, shared an interesting story about the harbor. A few years earlier, Tim noticed a large vessel docked in the harbor. He didn’t think much of the boat until he came back the next year and it was still sitting in the exact same spot. He thought it was strange that it was still docked in the harbor. 

A San Diego local shared with Tim the vessel had been run so hard for many years that it would take several years to complete all the maintenance and repairs required for it to be useful again. 

Can you wrap your mind around the fact that this huge vessel designed to be out at sea was stuck for years in the harbor for maintenance and repairsSomeone was responsible for the well-being of that ship. In the midst of all the good voyages the vessel was taking, they lost sight of the fact that the boat needed rest. It needed to come into the harbor for scheduled maintenance and repairs, yet they dismissed the significance of taking care of the ship. 

RESTored

The same can be true of each of our voyages. As men, like the vessel, we typically find ourselves out at sea trying to do good work. We continuously run hard, neglecting our spiritual health. We know we should take time to come into the harbor and anchor down for maintenance, but we keep putting it off. Instead, we continue battling the waves, the winds, and the other hazards the sea throws at us. And eventually, the elements wear us down until one day, we are incapable of pursuing the voyage God has designed us for. 

Anchor Down or Drift Away

Regardless of what our culture models and teaches, all men need to anchor downA vessel can’t withstand storms on the open seas without first being anchored down in the protection and comfort of the harbor, and our lives are no different. Your faith must become the anchor that keeps your vessel from drifting or being destroyed by the sea. Before attempting to live effectively or model leadership and strength for others, we must first anchor down into a solid relationship with our Creator. 

Your Challenge – Take 10 minutes to sit quietly and assess your voyage. Is the action of your voyage causing you to dismiss coming into the harbor to anchor down? What is the condition of your vessel? Do you feel equipped for the voyage? Pull out your journal to write your thoughts.