"Change your course."

The captain.
A captain of an enormous oil tanker sailing on a foggy night spotted lights coming his way. Knowing a collision was eminent, the captain sent a signal.

Captain:
"We are on a collision course. Change your bearing 10 degrees North."

Message returned:
"Change your course 10 degrees South."

The captain wasn't pleased with this response.

Captain:
"I am the captain of this ship. Change your bearing 10 degrees North."

Message returned:
"I am a Seaman 2nd class. Change your course 10 degrees South."

The captain was not about to be spoken to like this by a seaman essentially the rank of an army private.

Captain:
"Change your bearing 10 degrees North. I am a 240,000 ton tanker."

Message returned:
"Change your course 10 degrees South. I am the lighthouse."

Yelling at the lighthouse.
This story was presented at a a dinner meeting by Jenne Fromm as an example of how we so often struggle against our circumstances instead of adjusting our course.

Our struggle comes from our feeling that we need to control everything, even external circumstances, at any cost. Did the captain adjust his course? Did he finally listen to the lowly seaman 2nd class? Did he run his big, important tanker into the rocks to preserve his ego?

Make course adjustments.
It sure is hard to think up everything that will happen before you start. Holding ourselves to a standard of perfection is disastrous. Flexibility is key, but it must be coupled with a clear view of reality.

Circumstances must not control our lives, but we better have a clear understanding of them. As Todd Beiler says, "We will deal with reality sooner or later."

See reality, now, no matter how harsh, and make your course corrections sooner, rather than later.

Have a great week. - Hugh

PS What's your course for 2010? Drop me a line and we'll help you find the way.