Disturbing our peace

I had a lot of big dreams (the aspirational kind) when I was younger, and it was a fairly diverse array of ambitions at that. I wanted to play rugby for the Springboks, write and record at least five studio albums, become a medical doctor, travel the world to write award-winning articles and take award-winning photographs for National Geographic, then retire on a South African vineyard when I turn 35.

None of it came to be. In fact, my dreams and ambitions have changed quite significantly as time went by and circumstances changed. Now I aspire to raise my children to become good human beings, to be faithful in how I do my job and handle my responsibilities, to write a good blog post every now and then, and, if I'm lucky, have a quiet cup of coffee with a beautiful view (the view being optional as long as the silence is attainable).

And though these aren't necessarily bad dreams and aspirations, there is the sense that there is more to life than just having a cosy beverage and a comfortable existence. Sir Francis Drake (the English adventurer/pirate/explorer in the time of Elizabeth I) put the sense of there being more to life into words beautifully when he wrote this prayer as he left Portsmouth on one of his adventures:

Disturb us, Lord,
when we are too pleased with ourselves,
when our dreams have come true
because we dreamed too little,
when we arrived safely
because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord,
when with the abundance of things we possess
we have lost our thirst for the waters of life;
having fallen in love with life,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord,
to dare more boldly,
to venture on wilder seas,
where storms will show Your mastery;
where losing sight of land,
we shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes;
and to push back the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,
who is Jesus Christ.

There is more to life than just existing. There is infinitely more to life, because God is infinite. Jesus said that we can have life in abundance, not just adequately. Trying to step beyond the borders of our comfort and failing is one thing. Not trying to step out is taking failure to a whole new level.

However, as beautiful as Drake's prayer is, there is no guarantee that going beyond the horizon of our faith will be safe. In fact, it'll probably be dangerous and very uncomfortable. It'll be scary. It'll be challenging. And it will be in the company of our great Captain, Jesus Christ.

Every time God called someone to go beyond their boundaries (whether crossing over borders, experiencing different cultures or world views, changing religious views, or growing their faith in God) He constantly reminded them that He is and always will be with them, never leaving, never forsaking. And the same is still true for us today. He really is the God that goes before us, the One that walks beside us, the One that lifts us up when we stumble, the One who surrounds us with His love.

So what does going beyond the boundaries of your faith or comfort look like? It may be saying hello to someone you don't know (which is one of the greatest challenges any introvert can face). It may be a willingness to pray with someone out loud. It may be sharing with someone why you put your hope and trust in Jesus. It may be starting that charity that looks after the vulnerable and weak. It may be leaving a cushy job for the discomfort of a mission field.

Whatever adventure looks like for you, may you dare more boldly, venture on wilder seas, where storms will show God's mastery, knowing that the Captain is in control. To the glory of God.

Selah.