Pushing Away From the Safety of Land

Can it be that we need to push away? PerhapsOf the first league out from land?"
as a function of your life to this point there isThe ultimate in life is stepping out in the midst of
unrest and you're resolving to do something aboutchallenge; that the thing that forces us to
it. Life's just not turning out like you thought itchange--the catalyst--is actually a blessing in
would, or it's taken a turn for the worse.disguise. It gets us going.
If this is you, you're not alone. People areThink about it. The goading rod prodding us in the
grappling with change and people always have.backside is the real reason we've ever done
Whether we like change or not (and mostanything. If it weren't for these issues we've
apparently don't) it's inevitable as evidence offaced we'd not have done anything, truly.
discontent is placed before us; accept it or doDickinson's poem uses the vivid imagery of
something about it. If we deny our need ofpushing away from the safety of the shore to
change it only makes matters worse.conquer exhilarating feats locked up as secrets of
There surely has to be a way of tackling changethe soul. She, of a sense, describes our safety as
in a positive way.something that keeps us from this sense of
Emily Dickinson's poem Exultation is the Goingexultation--ecstasy, delight, euphoria.
attends perfectly to the right approach to change:Exultation is in the going. As soon as we've
"Exultation is the goingpushed clear of land and we look back, then we
Of an inland soul to sea,know we're in the hands of God--it's a funny,
Past the houses--past the headlands--weird, semi-scary feeling of expressed faith.
Into deep Eternity--Some have called it 'faithful action.'
"Bred as we, among the mountains,Explore it and take the plunge.
Can the sailor understand© 2010 S. J. Wickham.
The divine intoxication