Drift, Surf, Drown or Sail

You meet four kinds of people on the ocean of life. Those who drift just go with the flow. The wind and the waves control their speed and direction. The drifter quietly floats along and says, 'Whatever.' Those who surf are always riding a wave, the next big thing. They stay excited until the wave fades away, then they scan the horizon for something new. Surfers don't usually get anywhere, but they make a lot of noise and put on a good show. Those who drown seem to stay in the center of a storm. It doesn't matter how often you rescue them, they'll soon be in another crisis, crying, 'Help me, save me, it's been the worst week of my life. I don't know what I'm going to do.' Those who sail are navigating toward a fixed point. They counteract the wind and waves by adjusting the rudder and shifting the sails to stay on course. But without an immovable, fixed point in your life, there can be no sailing. There's nothing for you but drift, surf or drown. (Everyone, but especially ministry leaders need to have a fixed point in their life and insure their team members establish one as well.)

Source: Mike Metzger, professional mentor and president of Clapham Institute, Monday Morning Memo, 4 September 2007