LAND LUBBER
I looked over the scenic view trying to see the people’s faces on the ships and sailboats, but they were a little too far away. The cool breeze drifting up off the ocean was comfortable on my face. Felt good. The breeze on the faces on the boats had to be decidedly cooler, maybe too cold for me.
I don’t have much desire to trade places with those folks anymore. My desires are different than theirs now, I’ve lost some zest… I guess I’d be considered a Land Lubber at this point in my life. I like to gaze and ponder the magnificent ocean, but the desire to battle and conquer it are long gone.
As I looked out at the ocean I could hear the freeway’s constant airy hum as the cars and trucks went by at warp speed. The dangerous scenario has an almost relaxing tone and melody that plays gently along the wind, bringing me a satisfied relaxation. I know I won’t be able to avoid that like I can the sea, I am a Land Lubber after all.
Even though statistically my chances are much better on the water than they are on the land, it’s what I’m comfortable with. My daily habits have brought me comfort even in the daily risk of my life in traffic.
It’s a peculiar thing about us as humans; we long for the things that we’ve become used to in life. While it shouldn’t seem to make sense, it is a reality of life. Even people in prison, given enough time, become institutionalized; they’ve spent so much time on the inside that they don’t or can’t cope with the reality of life in a free society.
We build walls and boundaries in our minds that we don’t want to breach or want breached. We build prisons in plain sight and create a state of slavery in our mind to miss the complete fulfillment that could be possible in our lives. And it all starts on the inside.
Like all things in this life, who we are and how we respond to life starts inside of us. Fear of the unknown and change leave our minds captured like a rat in a cage. That is not the design God originally had planned for this world. Yes, the world is fallen, and yes, there is danger… but that doesn’t own or control the chosen of God. His chosen grasp their weakness in this flesh.
That weakness is wisdom… That wisdom also fills us with God’s understanding and His strength becomes available to us. In our weakness we find His strength. That strength is the very strength that created the world and has turned cowards into lions.
There’s far more danger living this life with the illusion we can control the world and things around us… Including living in our self-made safe compartments and trusting in our titles…
Like Land Lubber…
Lynn Morrissey
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 7:26 pm
Excellent post, Floyd. YOu know it’s amazing how land-locked we can become in our own fear. I hate to admit it, but I am a fearful Christian. Amazingly, I thought, if I stay home, nothing will harm me. And then one day, I was reaching for a plastic glass on a high shelf, and it came crashing down and hit my lip, which swelled painfully. I realized that it doesn’t matter where I am or how careful I am: Things happen. And if they didn’t, we wouldln’t be alive! How much better to launch out on the sea of life in the Ark of His providential care. It’s He who (as Kay Arthur says) filters what happens to us through His “fingers of love.” No matter what happens, He will never leave us and He promises to work all things together for our good. Thank you for this excellent post, reminding us that God never intended for us to live in self-constructed prisons. Oh no, He came to set the prisoners FREE!
Lynn
Floyd
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 4:49 pm
Wonderfully and profoundly said, Lynn. You do have a way with words! And free we are! We all have fears I think, it’s a weakness of our flesh. The senses trust only the senses, not what it is we can’t sense in the other dimension and He causes or allows all things. “Fingers of love.” Haven’t heard that, it’s worth remembering. Thanks, Lynn!
Nancy
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 10:22 pm
I was just thinking about Stockholm Syndrome and Patty Hearst the other day!
Poor thing. She was unwarily drawn in!
…Often we identify with the wrong stuff instead of identifying with our NEW Nature. That New nature provides Umph! Surge! Possibilities! Insight! Direction! Anticipation! No, I am not necessarily referring to that which is in the physical realm. It may involve it in part. But, being led by The Spirit is a never ending challenge for the believer. In Him we live and move and have our being. Sometimes that means being quiet and waiting on Him to move, and other times it means exercising my faith and patience, ans stepping out wherever He leads without knowing the whole story. I give the Spirit permission anytime to spur me on so I don’t become sedentary of spirit. Good reminders, all! Thanks!
Floyd
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 4:54 pm
Very well said and summarized, Nancy. And I know first hand that you aren’t one to wait if our Father’s spirit is leading! Grasping His power and will changes our perspective of what we thought were limitations. There is no limits on the Father of all things!
Diane
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 4:42 am
First of all, I missed reading you. I feel like it has been forever since I was here basking in the warmth of your words.
Secondly, I love the new coloring! Thank you, Floyd! I used to have to do all this stuff to be able to read your posts. Now, I don’t. Thank you!!!!
What a great post. Provokes thinking. I love this: “We build walls and boundaries in our minds that we don’t want to breach or want breached. We build prisons in plain sight and create a state of slavery in our mind to miss the complete fulfillment that could be possible in our lives. And it all starts on the inside.”
How very, very true!
I’m so glad to be here this morning! Have a wonderful day, my friend!
Floyd
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 5:00 pm
It’s great to hear from you, Diane! I have a post planned for how a came about fixing my site. Suffice to say our Father is beyond great! I always appreciate your warm heart and kind words. It hits like a breath of fresh air. Thanks, Diane.
Loren Pinilis
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 5:59 am
It’s so tempting to think that I’m in more control than I really am – to think that I have more power than I really do. Every now and then you get one of those eye-opening experiences which reminds you of how small and weak you really are.
Floyd
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 5:01 pm
Amen, Loren. I couldn’t agree more. We get pretty full of ourselves until God shows us a glimpse of the truth. We need to remind ourselves and one another. Thanks, brother.
Dan Black
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 10:28 am
Powerful post(especially the last couple sentences). I have learned strengths comes through our realizing our weakness and relying on God.
Floyd
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 5:02 pm
Exactly. I’m with you one hundred percent, Dan. When we let that slip from our minds and hearts a painful reminder is in the works. Thanks, Dan.
Ngina Otiende
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
Great post Floyd. am always amazed at how we can get used to our prisons, pains – how we can use them as crutches too that they become an identity. we wonder how we’d be without the very thing that holds us back and we fight to keep the awful status quo. Fallen human nature is interesting. Thank God for His relentless saving grace. Wonderful thoughts.
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:34 am
“Relentless saving grace.” Great point. We don’t always move off of our spot on our own. Our Father sometimes makes us learn how to ride that metaphorical bike… It can be painful, but the reward serves Him and us. Thanks, Ngina.
Hazel Moon
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 6:18 pm
Think out of the box “they” will tell you. At time this is a good thing, but we do get used to our own box or habits. Land Lubbers, that is me too. Although this did remind me of an incident I must write about soon. Thank you for lightening your background. I was having to highlight all your words in order to read them, but I decided to ride the boat if that is where it took me.
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:36 am
Sorry it took me so long to get it fixed, Hazel. I’m not to proficient with this still, but I had no idea you had to go through that just to read… You’re a good friend. I’m looking forward to the next story of your life. Wisdom leaves clues… Thanks, Hazel.
Voni Harris
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
“Yes, the world is fallen, and yes, there is danger… but that doesn’t own or control the chosen of God.”
You make me think of the commercial fishermen here and in the Bering Sea. They face a ton of danger. The Coast Guard who saves them when they get in trouble out there on the seas.
Blessings!
Voni
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:39 am
Thanks Voni. Fishermen take courage to a whole new level. Even that is designed by God and is a good reminder of what we’re capable of. Good call.
Maureen Jepchumba
Friday, January 11, 2013 @ 11:58 pm
Herein lies wisdom, depending on God. In Him is strength given. We truly cannot control the world; not even our cocoons and titles. I am edified and challenged by this post today. Thanks Floyd.
Time to launch into the deep…
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:43 am
God calls and we respond either in obedience or otherwise. Peace and joy regardless of circumstances await the obedient. With God at your back, how can you lose? You’ll do great things, sister. Can’t wait to see it. Thanks for sharing.
Brenda Rees
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 2:12 am
Hello,
yes it is so true that our own wisdom is our weakness, and it is only when we begin to be fed with God’s wisdom that we see how foolish our own wisdom is. So too with ‘freedom’. I used to think that doing my own thing and ‘living it up’ in the world was being in a broad place of freedom, until I realized that I had become trapped within a very sad messy place. As soon as I entered the narrow gate, I could see that I had been brought into a beautiful, broad place.
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:52 am
I hear you loud and clear. What the world believes is freedom is slavery to the flesh. True freedom comes from within and grants us peace and joy, regardless of circumstances, from the inside out.
I walked that wide path of destruction… pretty easy to roll down that path. What a gift to be able to walk the straight and narrow… to the life that is truly free. Thanks, great wisdom in your words.
Jillie
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:30 am
Wonderful post, Floyd! Certainly food-for-thought for someone like me. Having grown up with a very fearful Mom, her voice often plays like a tape recording in my mind whenever I face a challenge. “Don’t do it! Don’t try that! It’s too dangerous! Be careful!” Consequently, I’ve constructed my own ‘safe prison’ that I seldom bust out of. But when I hear or read of someone daring to be “dangerous” for the Kingdom of God, I feel ashamed that I’ve cocooned myself. I want to be “dangerous” for Jesus Christ!!!
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 7:56 am
I’m amazed how God makes all so different, yet perfect for His perfect will. In our weakness we make mistakes and find redemption that He uses to grow us and point to His kingdom. I sense that inside you is a ferocious courage placed there by God. To be honest about our weaknesses points to that I think. I appreciate your sharing, it is encouraging for me. We all have massive potential for God. You got me thinking! Thanks, Jillie!
Betty Draper
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 10:22 am
My old flesh would love to control the events of my life but what a mess I would be if I could. If I have any strenght it’s because I know I am weak and He is strong. It was not my idea of traveling the world to be apart of reaching the lost in remotes places, not my idea at all. God never ask us to do anything without Him preparing our hearts, strengthen us. Each fear conquered through the years does not mean I never fear, but I know how to beat it, head for exactly what it is I fear, trust Him. Right now I have a fear of going to my neighbor and asking her to attend a bible study with me. The enemy of my soul wants to stop me…she might get saved…oh I hope so. The fear is the worst whenever we do something to further the gospel going out, that is where the worst battles are fought. Really good post brother…gave me courage to just read it and the replies. Thanks.
Floyd
Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 1:22 pm
Thanks, Betty. God knows our hearts, our weaknesses, and still delivers us constantly from our fear and lack of courage. You’re not alone. God also knows how lifted our hearts are when He delivers us through our personal “Valleys of the Shadow of Deaths.” He also knows the heart of your neighbor… and what a blessing you’ll be to that person. You have a great heart and care deeply for others. When I think of you, I think of that wonderful saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Your neighbor isn’t there by chance. Thanks for sharing and giving me courage to stand up for what it is my Father wills.
Chuck Allen
Sunday, January 13, 2013 @ 10:21 pm
I’m the opposite of you as far and Land Lubbing goes. I’m still trying to convince my wife that we should live on a boat when we retire. (I haven’t won that argument yet, but I’ve still got some years to keep trying.)
But like you said, we are all the same in the way we hold to illusions of control and build walls to “protect” us. Some of my best times have been when I was in situations where I was totally out of control, but for some reason I still go back to arranging things for my comfort afterwards.
Floyd
Monday, January 14, 2013 @ 7:06 am
You’re not alone THAT boat I can assure you, Chuck! We tend to rely on our flesh and senses forgetting where the true power comes from. I think realizing it and pondering it helps. I hope you do convince your wife of that lifestyle someday! Thanks, Chuck.
Joanne Norton
Monday, January 14, 2013 @ 2:31 pm
I have one main fear … well, probably many … but, I don’t like to be on an airplane. I KNOW very few crash, I KNOW there’s not a lot of trouble on them [we hear a lot of the dumb situations where someone drunk or mad starts cussing and hammering at people]. BUT, I’m a white-knuckler on the plane most of the time. Have had some funny events. You’d laugh at this: was flying from Seattle to Denver and hit a thumping weather situation with the plane bouncing. I gasped and grasped the knee of the man sitting next to me, and immediately pulled my hand off and said, horrified, “Not my husband…”. He laughed.
WHEN going to Uganda, Morocco, or somewhere in a U.S. no-choice situation, I do it. My husband wanted to be an A.F. plane worker, and has loved it. My fear kicks my tail. So, when he’s with me, I just cuddle and hold… and we make it.
And I love LOOKING at he oceans and BIG lakes, etc., and I want to be on a ferry when I can, b/c it’s safe. BUT to be on a cruise or ocean liner? Uh, UH!! Too far from land. Too high from the bottom.
So, I’m brave in some ways. Ain’t in others.
Guess we’re all alike. In one way or another.
Blessings…
Floyd
Monday, January 14, 2013 @ 6:27 pm
We are all more alike than we are different I think too. I’ve bounced around a few planes in the Arizona desert as well, can’t say I like it much either, but force myself to get out of my box. God reveals so much to us when we do I think. Like your mission trips; point made. Now I’m feeling even more resolved to step out in faith! Thanks, Joanne!