Some geographic trivia to open: Where is the Sargasso Sea? Ah well it would take a bright thing who won the Geography award in Grade 7 (me) to tell you it is a massive area of calm in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was the bane of all those explorers trying to find efficient routes from Europe to the Caribbean, they were hindered from getting to their destiny, from the abundance that awaited them and the accompanying fame when they got back home. I am in my own Sargasso Sea at the moment.

I am frustrated, hindered, discouraged, and not to mention demoralized in my attempts to get back to Africa to “get on with my destiny”. All right so it is the geographic opposite of the actual Sargasso Sea but the results are the same.

I have been home since mid May, provisioning, as it were, my return journey to Uganda. My hope, my dream, and my destiny, is there but, like the early explorers, I am not quite sure where to find it. I have made 6 journeys to Uganda, with many other stops, and each time is a different adventure, discovering the “wealth” of what God has called me to do…and stumbling so many times in relationships, in pursuing certain projects, in reacting adversely to the challenges that appear (sometimes explode!) in the midst of my pursuit of these objectives.

To be an explorer, or more correctly, a discoverer, you have to be determined, almost compulsive, and you have to recognize the hidden blessing of an unforeseen resource. A good example would be the fur trade where a whole industry was created and for the English and French economy was a renewable resource. Don’t mention this to the PETA advocates but fur established the British empire in North America…also the Spanish eventually ran out of gold, or had most of it stolen by privateers.

Ah, I digress. In terms of my own journey, I know there is a vision to which I am being directed but it seems there are so many other things that press for my attention. Rather than be obsessive like those early discoverers, very mission task-minded…I find myself diverted by so many other projects and people which may not be part of my vision or objectives but present so many interesting possibilities.. Until either myself or my companions see how many obstacles there are to overcome to achieve this goal. As I network there are so many wonderful people and projects that I encounter, to engage a person in their vision is so rewarding, but that is the problem. I get excited in the initial stages but get frustrated, even bored as I partner with the person in heading for a specific objective….I regret signing on board and sailing with that person.

What I have discovered is that I am a midshipman with aspirations to be a Captain. I know that some of the people that I encounter are Commodores or Admirals yet I have not had enough experience (“sea time”) to help them achieve their goals. I love “cruising with these crews” but in the long term we must both evaluate my effectiveness.

If you can handle more of this nautical analogy, and are not too frustrated at my lack of details and specific incidents, I will continue. We all face a “Sargasso Sea” in our journey, where we seem to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, though surrounded by the familiar, you feel like you are not getting closer to your goal in a manner that fulfills you. The morale of those that you are working with seems low, because you don’t seem to be actualizing your goal, and it becomes more frustrating than encouraging to be working at close quarters with them.

Then there are those around me who are sailing along well, accomplishing their goals, and I feel envious and frustrated that they are skimming along with such ease, there sails well trim, and everything gleaming with spit and polish….or is that just my perception? My friend John just called, he has a wonderful family, a great job that he finds fulfilling, and his life is sailing smoothly. The last time we had a long conversation he asked about “my journey”. I was slightly embarrassed to admit that it was not going as well as I had hoped. I wanted to give a good account to John, who has been my prayer partner in times past, and has always been a faithful friend, and a righteous brother. His life seems not only complete, but perfect, mine seems so unfulfilled and shabby. But I know the danger of comparison, there is only one standard that I must abide by, God’s will for my life.

So I close with this admonition to fellow voyagers (mmm “voyageurs” as it was the particular voyageurs known as the Courier du Bois who really opened up the fur trade here in Canada):

1) Know that the treasure you seek may not be what you imagined it, ”all that is gold does not glitter”…whether it be success or prosperity or simply satisfaction.

2) Whether it is the Sargasso or the Sahara there will always be an obstacle to your objective, distance you from your destiny, deny you your destination….but your goal awaits you on the other side.

3) Don’t dwell in your wilderness but take full benefit of the wisdom you can gain about yourself, your traveling companions, and the ONE who Sends you on your Life Journey.

David Griffith

A Voyageur, A Troubador, A Discoverer

nzekalanzi@yahoo.ca

CHECK OUT MY WEB PAGE:  www.windsorchurches.org then click "Missions"

and then click my name, David Griffith

there is still a little more............

Here is part of the Wikpedia article on the Sargasso Sea…(go to their website if you are one of those people that lives for details!)