Why "Magellan's Ship"?

Why “Magellan’s Ship”?

Magellan explored many islands without opposition. The theory is that the natives did not attack Magellan as one would have expected them to do upon the arrival of his big ships with a bunch of strange looking creatures on them.

Why? The natives did not know what they were looking at – they had absolutely no point of reference. In fact, they were so taken by what they saw, they laid down their spears and brought their canoes ashore. Watching the big ship with huge billowing sales was so far from any experience they had previously had, that they were in awe, welcoming Magellan and his crew, and treating them like Gods.

It is with this “awe” that I chose to view my future. Join me on my journey… It’s going to be amazing!


Monday, January 31, 2011

First Crushes

So what the heck am I talking about?

Let me back up a bit... Remember that first crush you had?  What is it about "that boy" that can still tug at your heart strings years and years later?  The fond memories that bring a smile to your lips....

Some 36 years ago I met "him"... sat in Sunday School classes with him, youth groups and crazy fun events like water skiing and capture the flag, holding hands, and even several years of Friday night ski lessons - our lives were intertwined for 6 years, until we graduated and went our separate ways.  I always wondered what happened to him.  Life goes on... everyone gets busy and time passes with marriages, babies, work and new friends and places to live.  It seemed he and I were just a fond memory from our youth.


I had a random conversation early last year with a couple of friends that led to a group of us getting together - a 30 year informal reunion from our old youth group!  How would I know that it would be the beginning of the Magellan Ship Adventure in which we are about to embark on together?

Hang with me here for a moment because I have to tell you that from time to time, the Good Lord speaks to me...  Loud and clear last January, after a really ugly divorce, He said, "One year.  Wait one year."  Now, knowing what a sense of humor He has, I could only image what exactly He had up His Divine Sleeve by the "Wait one year" directive.  But I waited... naturally, I thought about IT (as in my future - dating, relationships, work, etc) but I was pretty content in my new "single" life filled with family and awesome girlfriends to hang out with.  I was thinking a male "friend" to hang out with would have been nice, but I really had no desire to share my life or heart with someone. 

Well, at the AMCC Youth Group Reunion last June guess who I ran into?  "His" brother Dave... so what's the first thing I say?  "Hey!  How's Peter?"  I really doubt if I even asked Dave how he was doing, I just wanted the information on that boy from my past.  His response was an immediate, "He's divorced."  So, I got the details such as where he lived (Colorado) and what he was doing (a builder).  I next asked "Is he on Facebook?"  Which, thankfully, the answer came as, "Yes, he is."  Much to my chagrin, out bubbled, "Well I am going to look him up!"  (What!?  Am I 13 years old again?)  However, my embarrassment didn't stop me - I believe it was that night when I got home that I searched and found him on Facebook and requested to be his "Friend". 

The ship began sailing my way that night....

Am I Crazy?

I need a cup of coffee... I looked up the meaning of the word "crazy"... it means  1. mentally deranged; demented; insane. 2. senseless; impractical; totally unsound: a crazy scheme.   Could this be me? 

This journey, and blog, begins after I read about Magellean's Ship....
"Magellan and his men explored many islands and did so without opposition from the natives living there, who might have been expected to climb into their dugout canoes and launch a full-scale attack on these strange looking sailors as dangerous interlopers, but instead welcomed them with open arms.  The reason?  When native lookouts first spotted Magellan's ship, they didn't know what they were looking at.
They had never seen anything so huge and so majestic carrying people on water before.  The gigantic ships, with their enormous masts and sails fully billowed, were so far outside of the experience of these island natives that they had no point of reference from which to even begin to consider what these vessels might be.  They anchored their canoes, laid down their spears in awe, and welcomed Magellan and his men as gods.

This is the Magellan's Ship Syndrome - a phenomenon that occurs when what one is looking at is so far from one's experience, that person literally doesn't know what to make of it. 


I believe THIS for my life.  I belive THIS is what God intends for my life.... Am I crazy?  You might think so as you continue to read of this journey that I am on, and maybe I am, but what an adventure it is going to be!

-Cheryl