20th January 2025
Here’s a story that I love
A man on a long journey comes to a wide, rushing river blocking his path. With no way around it and no bridge in sight, he chops down a tree and uses the wood to build a small boat. The boat is remarkably sturdy, and the man is able to navigate across the river safely.
Before walking on to continue his journey, the man has a thought:
“What if I come across more rushing rivers that I need to cross? This boat will really come in handy.”
So he attaches the small boat to a pair of straps and begins to walk, dragging the boat behind him, just in case it becomes useful later in the journey.
After an hour, he has made little progress and finds himself exhausted, as dragging the heavy boat through the bumpy terrain is very difficult.
It becomes clear: Holding onto the boat beyond the river was a mistake.
This is a metaphor for life:
Throughout our own journey, we build “boats” to navigate the various rushing rivers that we encounter. These boats help us, even save us, in those moments.
But sometimes, we choose to hold onto those boats far beyond the banks of the river, far beyond their usefulness to our life.
We worry about future rivers, and about our ability to build similar boats, so we cling to the old out of fear of our inability to build something new.
But when you hold onto something you no longer need, you are holding yourself back from becoming the person you are meant to be.
What boats are you still holding onto? What tools, habits, experiences, relationships, or mindsets served you once, but no longer provide value in your current terrain?
Trust in your ability to adapt, to build a new boat.
Move forward at full speed & stay blessed forever.