After nearly completing his first overseas cruise, a young ensign was given an opportunity to display his capabilities at getting the ship under way. With a stream of commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon the ship was steaming out the channel en route to the states.
His efficiency established a new record for getting a destroyer under way, so he was not surprised when a seaman approached him with a message from the captain. Strangely though, it was a radio message and it read: “My personal congratulations to you upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules – make sure the captain is aboard before getting under way.”
We may think our lives are in order. We may have managed them to a tee and people wish they were us – our businesses, are prospering, our kids are doing well in school, our marriage is sweeter than ever. But if the Captain is not on board, at some point, we’re going to have to head back and start again.
There is a lot of stress in our world today. Have you ever been so distracted that you locked yourself out of the house, car, etc. Sometimes we can be thinking and worrying able other things that we forget about what it is we are doing at the moment, whose consequences can add to the distractions of the day.
The writer of Colossians 3:1-2 reminds us a few things about focusing our mind. We need to be intentional about setting our minds on things above, protecting ourselves from distractions but pausing and doing a reset of our mind. God Bless you in your journeying.
Blessings,
If you would like to view past editions of Devotions with DS. Kenneth Locklear, follow this link: https://gatewaydistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/