The cross-country journey of Lewis and Clark is beautifully mapped out in Stephen Ambrose's historical biography "Undaunted Courage". Their charge was to find a northwest passage waterway that would connect the intercontinental United States with the Pacific Ocean. That, of course, we all know today does not exist, yet the overall success of their expedition is recorded as one of tremendous courage and amazing fortitude. Beyond the surging rivers, deep canyons, desolate plains, and the massive Rocky Mountains, Meriwether Lewis and the expedition crew also encountered unwelcoming Native American nations, harsh weather conditions, and in several instances near starvation. To say they "went out on a limb" in taking on such a challenging exploration would be nothing short of a gross misinterpretation of their journey. There was certainly an element of fear that crept into the minds of Lewis and Clark as they were preparing for their journey, but nevertheless they journeyed on.
As I began my own new journey as a Director of Schools, I was visiting one of our elementary schools and outside the front entrance, students had posted encouraging quotes on the canopy poles. One of those quotes aptly fits our conversation today. The quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson goes like this, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." What Emerson is suggesting is exactly what the Lewis and Clark expedition did. If Meriwether Lewis had not challenged the accepted norm, then his trek to the Pacific Coast would have never occurred. Did the Corps of Discovery expedition find an all water route to the Pacific, no, but their accomplishments in mapping the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase, the identification of hundreds of unknown animal and plant species, plus the initial interactions with Native American peoples across the continent are all well documented as successes in American exploration. If fear had won the challenge would the accomplishments of Lewis and Clark have been duplicated by someone else eventually? Possibly, but could it have been an exploration made by another country that eventually laid claim to the land areas they encountered? Absolutely. The Lewis and Clark expedition didn't follow the constraints of the path that was already in place, instead they created the trail Emerson challenged us to find for others to journey along in their lives.
Another quote I encountered recently warns us that "Safety is the biggest hindrance to human endeavor." It is "safe" to say that if Meriwether Lewis and company had not been willing to get out of the "safety zone" of the familiar then they would not have taken the risks of their northwest exploration. They would have stayed where things were laid out by city streets, mapped out passages, and familiar territories. Their courage in facing the unknown lifted them from the notion of "doing things the way we've always done them" to a historical accomplishment that propelled the United States across the North American continent.
What is there in your life that you are holding back from doing because it is out of your comfort zone? Is there a new career path that you have been contemplating, but where you are now provides security and a sense of stability? Are you stuck in place in some other life decision you need to make, yet the path is uncharted and you are afraid of rejection or failure? You have a purpose in life, God didn't create us to be set in a course with no ebbs and flows, wins and losses, or ups and downs. Instead, you were created to forge new trails that will lead others to God through your efforts. You were meant to do hard things, maybe not like trekking across an unknown land mass, yet what God has planned for you may have even more challenges associated with it than what Lewis and Clark endured. Our promise is that God is with us through it all and that is enough. King David provided this encouragement to his son Solomon as he charged him to finish the work of building the temple to God, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished."
Whatever decisions you are facing, my challenge to you is to move forward. Progress is not made moving backwards! Pray for guidance, strength, and courage, but then move forward and map out your own path that will lead others to where they need to be. You are not alone, God is with you and He will never abandon you as you journey through the life He has given you to live!
Coach Carter
No comments:
Post a Comment