I was an officer in our High School Navy Junior ROTC chapter many moons ago. My goal? The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the eventual rank of Admiral.
One of my favorite drills was charting the course of our carrier group. I gathered nautical charts, a compass, a divider, and a parallel ruler, and headed out to sea – theoretically, but it felt real.
Yet, the Core Principle informed me that a one-degree error in heading will result in being off course by one mile after traveling 60 nautical miles.
Precision matters. In navigation and life.
I applied and was accepted into the Naval Academy after my state senator wrote a letter of recommendation; I met all other requirements. I was simply awaiting one last report. An eye waiver. At that time, anyone applying with a visual deficit needed to have vision correctable to 20/20. Without glasses, my left eye was 20/15 and my right one 20/40. Labeled a lazy eye, correction was not possible; therefore, no Naval Academy.
I was crushed. My course was set, but God had another chart on His table. Why? I’m not sure. It’s a mystery. Was I a few degrees off, or was there a better destination awaiting?
You may be at a time of life when you had a course charted. One that was well planned but suddenly thwarted by some unforeseen set of circumstances. Or perhaps you have no course at all.
Don’t fear. God is in control. Course corrections are needed for many reasons. Storms, wind, interference, unforeseen calls to battle.
Map your course but live by faith.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Steve
