Who’s driving your boat?

While on vacation, Carly and I rented a two-person kayak. We were heading to the shallow waters to manatee cove. I noticed being in the back the boat made me in control.  Carly sat upfront and did all the hard work and I just stuck my paddle in and turned us left and right.

Once we reached our destination, we were met by at least ten manatees. These manatees were happy if you know what I mean. It was cool for us because our small boat allowed us to hover over top of these fat beasts. I even grabbed one. Don’t tell the fish and wild life people. It was a pretty cool sight to see.

 

Here are a couple of things I noticed about our seating arrangement.

Front seat:

You’re the person moving the boat forward. When you sit in the front of the boat everything coming your way hits you first; every thing that happens to you is immediate. You’re the first to see life’s cool stuff and bad stuff. You lose a little bit of control.

 

Back seat:

Being in the back of the boat gives a broader perspective. The person in front trusts you. You make choices that affect direction and everyone else you have contact with.  Power comes with responsibility.

 

Here’s the thought. We all have things that steer us. As believers was try to allow God to be our guiding force.  But in reality we let other people, feelings, and self interest guide us.  Often we are so involved in the front our life’s boat that we can’t keep perspective. We become consumed with our current realities rather than where God wants to steer us. Ironically some times we strive to be all that we can be for God that we kill direction he might have started in us to run to another Godly direction.

 

Questions.

How can we take a step back and gain perspective?

How much of our life’s choices are thought about through the character of God.

How can we discern between God’s direction and our feelings masquerading as God’s voice.?