REFLECTION: Dead Reckoning: Navigating A New Year
Years ago- more than ten now, I think, I saw Titanic for the first time. I went back to see it again and again- even bought the DVD so I could own it to watch whenever the need stirred. Being a Pisces and a sailor, I immediately connect with all the anticipation, excitement and fear of an off shore voyages. The power of the sea, its enchantment -its perils always draws my back to essentials- reminds me what is important.
It is the most ancient law of the sea.... At the beginning of every watch and at the end of every watch, someone must make an entry into the log. Currents, tides, weather conditions, and wind direction must be noted as well as the ships speed and course steered. Any deviations from course and why it was made must be noted. Points are plotted on the chart. Accurate positions and sightings are noted.
These days, sailors have sophisticated electronics and GPS to calculate their positions. But accomplished seamen still, know how to use a sextant to get a fix from the sun in anticipation of an electronics malfunction. If the sky is overcast, no sun or stars are visible to obtain a manual fix they must depend upon that logbook and dead reckoning to navigate.
Dead reckoning is the only way to figure out where you are and where you are going when you are without electronics, under siege of a storm or blanketed by fog. Sailors can estimate where they are and what direction to move by looking at the marks on the chart and the notes in the logbook. If accurate attention has been paid to details, if the why's and wherefores have been documented, the ship’s navigator can estimate where the ship is going based on where it has been- and estimate a course that will bring the ship safely to its destination.
We are each navigating the waters of a new year. It is important to get a fix on our location, note the conditions of our progress, and document the details, personally, spiritually, communally, before we set a course into the future. There are milestones and markers, which document our passage through the last year giving us bearings that will prepare us for the unexpected.
Personally, there may be physical symptoms to note, weight gain or loss, headaches, muscle tension, shortness of breath. Any change from our norm, in sleep patterns, eating or physical regimes or appearance can be an indicator that helps plot the course towards health and well-being.
The status of our emotionally bodies is reflected in our ability to be attentive, give care and receive care in balanced proportion. Note the intensity of your emotional responses. Does anger, fear, anxiety, or a sense of being overwhelmed dominate your emotional range? Note the quality and frequency of your joy, peace connections to beloveds. Our emotional and physical bodies are like beacons- they have the ability to flash signals for care and attention. It is not a time to beat ourselves up but to sit- listen- ask for help.
Our emotional physical and spiritual bodies reflect their well being through our ability to create and sustain intimate relationships... friends, partners - or let go of relationships which are not healthy or fulfilling. The amount of time we have available for relationships and other activities, which bring us joy and satisfaction, indicates the state of balance. A dependency upon overworking, food, alcohol drugs, or other emotionally numbing devices to cope with stress indicates the need for course corrections.
We have spiritual bodies as well... that confirm our whereabouts. Our sense of purpose in our lives... our awareness of being part of a bigger picture with a sense of higher intent, verifies the effectiveness of the course we are sailing. When we are feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, cynical, or directionless, our spiritual bodies are flashing a warning for the need of a course change. A spiritual practice, something as simple as a mindful walk- or sitting and breathing, consistently, each day can bring our spiritual bodies back on course
You, members and friends, the transition team and I have all been getting a fix on where we are personally, spiritually, communally before we set sail into the ministerial search process. We have noted the milestones and markers which documents this fellowships passage through the last year- giving us bearings to set course by, preparing us for needs of a new year. That is what we have been doing with our cottage meeting, committee retreats, and workshops, trying to get an accurate fix on where SC has been and wants to arrive.
As a community, we have been assessing the state of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By February, we will have completed this part of our interim journey and we will be r easy to step into the next leg of the journey. The Transition Team and I are discussing the possibility of an all-church weekend event to begin the conversation of assessing and planning the course that will bring you into and through the search for a settled minister
The more members and friends that engage in the conversation, the more accurately the results will reflect the whole community and the better match you will be able to make in choosing your next settled minister.
Assessing, logging, and observing such things as will aid the course to a successful search
The condition of the buildings,
The ability of your fiscal budget to meet the needs of your community,
Your ability to support the emotional and spiritual needs of members,
The visibility of our presence in the larger community,
Your ability to lend assistance to those in need with the gift of compassionate presence and just values,
How new members are connected to the community and how visitors are welcome. These are some of the indicators that reflect how effectively south church meets its institutional needs. They are navigational aids- markers by which to plot the course into the future.
2010 lies like an open sea, beckoning us to engage in many exciting & unknown adventures. You are a diverse group with different needs and desires. You have established traditional habitual behaviors and choices for communication styles and decision making. How’s that working for you? What would you like to see different?
We can drift through this year via a passive process of indecision and chance or we can arrive confidently and mindfully where we want to be by plotting an intentional course. We will not know what it will be like until we get there but if we practice being mindful of what we want- and the course your mission and vision we are assured that we will make appropriate decisions as we go.
January is the month to reflect on our individual and communal direction.
Dead reckoning is really just about being present in the moment, observing and reflecting, honestly. It is about uncovering the Cyclops or the angry Poseidon within our souls lest they be raised up before us. Dead reckoning is about observing and utilizing one's achievements and challenges without judgment, with appreciation making use of the tools around us to ensure that our journey is long, full of adventure and satisfaction. Keep Ithaka fixed in your mind. Dead reckoning. To arrive there is our ultimate goal. But let's not hurry the voyage at all. Keeping our thoughts lofty, confident in our competence to meet the challenges we will savor the joy, and discover the peace of another year. So may it be.