The wind of change is constant. For many of us, this year has brought profound personal shifts—in our families, our communities, and our own lives. It’s easy to feel the pull to anchor ourselves to the familiar past, but the Christian life is fundamentally a life of exploration and forward motion. The poet Walt Whitman captures this spirit of faith and courage beautifully:
“Sail Forth—Steer for the deep waters only. Reckless O soul, exploring. I with thee and thou with me. For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared go. And we will risk the ship, ourselves, and all.” (From Passage to India)
This is our call: to embark on the next adventure, trusting the One who commands the winds and the waves.
Our Children’s Passage, Our New Chapter
In my own life, I am witnessing this bold exploration firsthand. Our children are embarking on journeys that are transforming our family landscape: one is heading to Army basic training, another is buying her first home, and my oldest is starting a new career that promises immense challenges and rewards.
These launches signal a change in our own lives. As parents, friends, and servants, our roles are shifting. Our parents are growing older, friends are moving on, and our careers are evolving. When the familiar mist of the past begins to fade, we have a choice: to fear the empty space or to see it as the clean slate God provides for a new chapter.
Change is inevitable. Yet we do not need to be afraid.
Steer for the Deep Waters Only
The need for movement and discovery echoes Jesus’ own commission to His followers. The instruction in Matthew 28 to go to all nations is the ultimate call to risk the ship—to embrace change, seek new ideas, new lands, and new people, all lived out in fearlessness and love.
To truly embrace God’s calling, we must adopt two essential disciplines:
- Enjoy the Moment, Then Let Go: Clinging to the past prevents us from receiving the present grace and future direction God has prepared. We must enjoy the moment, however brief, then let go and sail. Hold on to the memories and lessons, but never stop striving.
- Allow God to Chart the Path: We can’t step in the same river twice; the world—and everything in it, including us — are constantly changing. Instead of frantically trying to steer by our old maps, we must allow God to chart a new path. Trust that the Holy Spirit is leading you toward the deep waters of deeper discipleship and broader service.
A Call to Action: Engaging the World Anew
As the body of Christ, our unity is not meant to be a safe harbor where we hide from the world. Our unity is the strength we need to launch again and again.
If we are truly to heed the call of the Great Commission, we cannot wait for the world to come to us; we must engage the world in new ways right where we are.
Ask yourself: As my life shifts, where is God calling me to launch next?
- In your workplace, how can you embrace a new challenge to be a courageous witness?
- In your community, what fresh need is God placing on your heart that requires a new kind of outreach?
- In your own routine, where can you risk a comfortable habit to plant seeds of the Gospel in an unfamiliar place?
Don’t look back at the past, which “fades into obscurity, like mist in the morning.” Embark on the next adventure. Sail forth with the confidence that you are never sailing alone.
We are bound where mariner has not yet dared go. Let us risk the ship, and let us go together!
Scott Soden
Director of Brethren Global Partners and Advancement