Promised Land - prose

 

You were pushed off from safe moorings, suddenly, without planning, with little time to gather cargo or prepare for the journey.

 

The oddments you did grab quickly were strewn across the deck, no order, you hardly gave them a second glance as you concentrated on steering the ship, staying afloat, finding out how everything worked.

 

Now those frantic moments have faded into memory, you have been at sea for a long time, moons have risen and waned while you sailed forwards, becoming used to the seasons, weathering the storms, at peace on the open water.

 

But now your ship draws near to shore again, you can see the faint outline of a coastline in the distance. You feel nervous because you thought you were happy just sailing, and now the sight of this new thing both excites you and terrifies you. What will land mean? How could you live there? How close is it?

 

But this isn’t just any coastline. It isn’t some shapeless bit of land, empty and desolate.

 

It is uncharted territory, unclaimed ground, a place you were destined to discover, not to glorify your own ability, but as part of a bigger picture. This is the promised land you were made to explore, boundaries set for you to step over, sights no eye has seen or identified, this was a space I set for you to walk into.

 

Don’t be afraid of stepping off from the comfort and familiarity of the ship. True, this new land will hold challenge; true, there remain giants there. But your time at sea has taught you about Me, and now you know to call on Me. I have given you the authority to drive the giants from the land; I have given you the weapons for your warfare. I will not abandon you to this; I stand around and about you on every side. It is not only your fight but the fight of your generation.

 

So, in these remaining days, consider all you have learnt, for the time is coming when teaching and theory will become practice and daily necessity. Remember the lessons of intimacy, found in solitude on the open seas, this will be key in the intensity of battle. Remember this new land belongs to me, you are my explorer. Give me the glory for the things you see around you, communicate constantly as I reveal the layout of this new territory.

 

I know you want to know how many days it will be before your ship finds the nearing sands, before you step onto solid ground again. I know the questions in your heart, and the excitement too. Remember we are in this together, trust me to sort the timescale and guide you to shore, enjoy these last nights on the open water, watch the stars, swim, talk with me, these are key moments.