We rest here while we can, but we hear the ocean calling in our dreams,
And we know by the morning, the wind will fill our sails to test the seams.
The calm is on the water, part of us would linger by the shore,
For ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.
— Michael Lille
We all know life can be hard and it is natural for us to hope for comfort and security. Challenges push us out of our comfort-zone. Hardship is unpleasant. And it would be so much easier for us to avoid such discomfort.
But life isn’t meant to just be comfortable. We are not meant to sit idly on the shore. Like a ship sitting in the harbor, if we sit on the shore, we will languish and decay.
The glory of a ship is not to sit in a harbor, but to voyage across the sea. And like a ship, our glory will not be found sitting around in comfort. We will find our true power as we bravely face the waves and storms of life.
When we face challenges we learn and grow. We encounter our limits and then surpass them. We reach levels of success and happiness that were previously beyond our grasp. When we endure through challenges, we emerge from the other side as new people.
So set your rigging and turn your gaze to the horizon. Glory is waiting for you on the open sea.
What challenges have you been afraid to tackle in your life? What might you learn from your challenges? How would overcoming your challenges change you?