Island Journal: day 1…
Posted on October 11, 2009
Filed Under Generally Spiritual (few if any geek references) | Leave a Comment
(yeah, he’s still stuck on the island theme 
Day 1
We established a beach head. It feels so very good to be on solid ground (translation: to have a clear sense of mission and where to show up each morning, who to work with, etc.) Wow, are my legs ever wobbly! They say it takes time to regain your “land legs.”
Had a very hard time getting the tent set up, struggled to find fresh water, sweat like a mad man while gathering fire wood– and oh yes, there are the “natives.” Very nice folks, but I’m constantly confusing one with another and all that.
At night, around the fire I reflected on just how big this place is, and how much work there is to do. Lots and lots of work to do…
Day 2
I forgot how nasty mosquitos can be! (I had none of those in the middle of the ocean) The air can be so stale at times (I miss the ocean breezes). And I’m constantly lost, can’t get any real work done. I got sand in my sleeping bag, camp fire smoke in my tent, my feet hurt from all the rocks and I have all these little cuts from the foliage.
But wait, today I have mosquitos, in the ocean we had sharks. Today if I want some ocean breeze, I have all the freedom I need to go to the beach and get some. Besides, the ocean could get brutally hot–no shade in the middle of the ocean! And the storms! Tossed about from here to there, overwhelmed by the waves. Here I have solid ground to stand on, and palm trees for shade. In the ocean, instead of sand, I had salt and it would cake all over my head, eyes, arms, etc.
Tonight, as I sat at the camp fire and reflected, it was no longer the hugeness of this island that stunned me, but how quickly I forgot. I forgot how difficult things really were out in the “ocean” of uncertainty.
Day 3
What! Another mountain in our path! No! Not another mountain! …. breathe deep, keep breathing… Actually, that mountain is starting to look rather interesting. Wow, it’s actually a very cool looking mountain. And if we conquer it, think of the view! What if we go up this side, then turn left and come up from here, then reach for that plateau? Come on folks! We can do this!
Day 4
More of day 2 and 3, but I’m a little less lost today, just a little. I actually found time to climb a smaller mountain and look around a bit (i.e. I had a little time to try to get my head around our current state and where to go from here.)
Once or twice today I found myself longing to swim in the water again; to feel the buoyancy to wonder around freely and explore the depths of anything that caught my interest. But life on this island requires its own bit of swimming around (i.e., a certain amount of autonomy), yet I’m no longer swimming alone. And now when I swim, I swim within the context of this giant mountain, the top of which breaks above the ocean–and we call that an “island” (translation: my work is part of a mission that is much bigger than myself or my department. We are “the church at work in higher education.” And that is very, very cool. )
Day 5
I have been getting along well with those who arrived here long before me. But we’re moving past the initial enthusiasm over a new arrival and now I need get to the next level. I need to bring the team together and talk together about the future and how to work together, etc. And, I need to become helpful to this team, I need to start showing some value, before people start asking, “was it really worth it to bring this guy here?”
Day 6
Spent the day at “the work camp.” My wife came along and we cleaned up my office and organized things. I also had time (finally) to think about things, and to plan out the next few weeks.
AND…. that thing about whether or not I’m “worth being here,” well, the Lord had “speaks” with me about that. He reminded me that HE brought me here. I’m certain of that. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I try to remember that He drew me here and He will give me strength and direction; He will provide.
And so I made it through Week 1. Right now I am very much taking it one day at a time. Soon, however, my land legs will get stronger and I’ll be less confused and more adjusted. Then I should be in a place to think a week at a time, then a month at a time, etc.
—-Where He leads, He empowers.
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