An Apocryphal Story

There is too much chatter.  Too much assumption and opinion without taking into consideration foundational principles or truth.  To calm my mind sometimes, I have to think, "Ok, what is true right this minute. I am here, doing the things that need to be done and at this time, I'm ok"  If that's not you right now, you may need  this story I found and never forgot in a Sean Covey book I use for teen classes.

The following is a transcript of an apocryphal radio conversation between a US Naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland:

Americans:  "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision."

Canadians: " Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision."

Americans: "This is the captain of a U.S. Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."

Canadians: "No, I say again, you divert your course."

Americans: "This is the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels.  I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north.  That's one-five degrees north, or countermeasures will be taken to ensure the safety of this ship."

Canadians: "This is a lighthouse.  Your call."

Principals, or as I refer to truths, are like lighthouses. They're timeless, universal, and self evident. You can't break the truth, you can only break yourself against it, no matter who you are.  -Sean Covey, The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make.

Don't waste the precious time God gave you smashing yourself up against a lighthouse. Maybe it's time to divert your course and a new plan of action to keep your peace and focus on what is really, truly important in life. Know what the truth is, and act accordingly. Make adjustments when necessary. The stuff out there won't change, but you can change how you respond.


The lighthouse is there to guide you.