The Safest Man On Earth
“Once you take that first step, the next step is easier, and the step after that becomes easier
On October 27 of last year, Bert terHart boarded a 40’ ocean fairing sailboat and sat sail from Victoria, British Columbia. His objective was to become the first North American to ever circumnavigate the globe solo, using only a sextant, pen, paper, and almanac for navigation. On July 28th, after 267 days at sea, he sailed back into Victoria having accomplished his goal.
While on the open seas, he faced extreme weather with regular 12 to 14ft ocean swells, unforeseen ship repairs that extended his journey by six to nine months, and severe sleep deprivation (resting 4 hours each day in 2 hour increments while being strapped down in the boat). But in spite of these dangers, he was dubbed “the safest man on earth.” You can probably guess why.
When terHart set sail, the world had never heard of Covid-19. While he was gone, we had to invent a whole new vocabulary with phrases like “social distancing,” “flatten the curve,” “shelter-in-place,” and “self-quarantine.” And while he was on the open ocean, terHart was safe from all of it.
In a recent interview with Travel and Leisure, terHart described what he hoped to accomplish by his journey;
“I wanted to inspire people to take that first step forward. . . Once you take that first step, the next step is easier, and the step after that becomes easier. And pretty soon, you’re living your dream — whatever that may be, big or small.”
Of course, as Christians, we are not out to live our dreams. We are seeking something far greater, God’s dreams for us.
Following God often means a journey into uncertain seas and uncomfortable waters. This often puts us into a posture of procrastination. We delay for a season as we wait to feel more certain, more safe. But this sense of security never comes because God sized goals are always risky.
Just take the first step forward. Then the next step will be easier and the step after that easier still. Pretty soon you will find yourself living God’s dream for your life. And the truth is, you are never safer than when you are in the will of God. In fact we can confidently say that when you are living God’s will for your life, you are “the safest man (or woman) on earth.”
Key Texts
Isaiah 41:10
. . .fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Daniel 3:16–18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
2 Timothy 4:17–18
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Joshua 1:6
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Key Topics
faith, step of faith, obedience, taking risks
Source
Prakash, Alisha. “Canadian Man Takes Social Distancing to an Extreme and Sails Around the World Alone in 265-day Voyage. Travel And Leisure, September 2020. Retrieved from https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/solo-travel/canadian-man-sails-around-world-without-gps-during-coronavirus
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