I make it a habit to take as many adventures as I can. My family’s current goal is to visit all 50 states. In order to make this happen before my children leave the house and without breaking the bank, much of this goal is accomplished by road-tripping. We are currently finishing up our latest journey that will check state #30 off the list. See my article on why I think road-tripping is the way to go: https://lifelibertyandlibations.com/2017/09/07/looking-for-adventure-10-reasons-to-take-a-road-trip/
We have road-tripping down to a science. We pack the car the night before and leave the house on our first day at 3 am to beat the traffic. The kids have a loaded cooler between their seats, their own “carry-on” bag filled with activities and a new movie to watch. My husband drives and I navigate. We have a complete itinerary with all the destination addresses, confirmation numbers and times ready to go. Aside from the occasional back-seat squabble, we work like a well-oiled machine.
And my time on the road has me reflecting on our system and on life.
Life is a journey.
On every great journey, there is a Captain and at his right hand, is his Navigator.
The Captain, the driver, stands at the helm. He holds the wheel, accepting the weight of his cargo as his responsibility, owning the turns of the wheel that he makes, controlling, directing the vessel safely to its destination. And upon arriving at his destination, the credit of the embarkment sits on his crown. For he is the Captain.
The Captain is strong. He is resilient and responsible and quick both in his wit and his reflexes. He guides his vessel tirelessly and doesn’t truly rest unless his vessel is at rest.
The Navigator holds the map. He reads and interprets the signs. He doesn’t instruct, he guides. Looking ahead for impending hazards, he is the Captain’s eyes and ears. The Navigator is patient. The Navigator is astute. He holds a watchful eye, warns and informs the Captain and reads his coordinates with careful diligence. Not a side-kick or arm candy but a necessary counselor who carries the blueprints.
But ultimately at the end of the journey, everyone will ask, “Where’s the Captain?” “Who drove on this great journey ?”
And the Navigator will quietly step aside.
Like the old-fashioned mother who washes and cooks while the father earns a living, like the team who carries the prized medalist across the finish line, the Navigator receives his glory in the shadows of the Captain.
A Captain without his Navigator, is like an explorer without his compass – a dizzy fool, often making wrong turns, stopping frequently to reorient himself. A wanderer with little direction.
And a Navigator without his Captain is ready intelligence that is standing on the dock, bottled potential stuck holding his map, an eager adventurer with no vessel to carry him.
Often in life, we try to be both the Captain and the Navigator. In our hurried lives, we try to both hold the map and navigate the vessel on our own. And we fumble and stop and make countless wrong turns. But if we are careful, we realize the times we accomplish our greatest feats, are the times we are either the Captain OR the Navigator. But never both. Either we take the reins with a great advisor and guide directing us. Or we provide wisdom and support while the strength of another makes the hard calls and carries us through. The Captain will never succeed if he does not heed to his Navigator. And a Navigator who tries to take the wheel will merely sabotage the journey.
Rather than to harbor jealousy, the Navigator must learn humility.
And instead of becoming pompous, the Captain himself, should carry humble gratitude for the navigational guidance he was given.
Ask my children “Who’s the Captain?” of our ship and they’ll say, “Mom, but Dad drives.” The truth is, we take turns. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses, in any given journey, we decide who is best to take the wheel and who does best with the map.
We are a team.
Sometimes we are called to drive, to control, to carry the weight. In the end, we earn the medal. And other times, we are called to navigate, to carefully guide and quietly mentor, to step aside and allow the captain to gain the glory.
But the fruit of the journey belongs to us both. That’s winning at life. For without the other, we are lost.
