Why “Far Enough”?
I must be crazy! Blogging?
That’s way out of my comfort zone. It took me ages to begin my own Facebook page. For many years I hid behind our “combined” Facebook account; “our” meaning my wife and I. Then a book project forced me to have my own Facebook page. Now my daughters have bullied me into having a personal blog site. Not really, but they gave the final push. For a long time, I have been thinking about it, but could not find a compelling reason. Why would I want to do something like that? Even now, I’m not sure why I am doing this. Let me blame it again on a book project that requires that I should have a personal website or something like a blog. So here it is.
We, my daughters and I, after much deliberation, decided to call this blog, Far Enough.
Why a name like this? It sounds as if I am tired of something, fed up with something, had enough, or reached the end of something.
There may be some sparks of truth in such feelings and understandings for me, but Far Enough is more an indication of a turning point. It speaks of having journeyed far enough into one direction, of having come to a turning point, and from there embarking on a new journey going into and exploring new areas and unique experiences.
Far Enough expresses the drastic, radical turning point I came to in my life’s voyage, my professional career, my personal and spiritual growth, my journey as a follower of Jesus, and my relationship with God.
For twenty-seven years, my life’s voyage was set on a clear trajectory. I traveled along a well-planned route, one I believed was God’s calling and will for my life. Then it all came crashing down. The flight trajectory crashed. The roadmap burned. The highway was blocked, and the gates were closed.
It was as if something or someone said, “Far enough!”
When my life’s boat sank, my life’s plane crashed, when this earthquake happened and blocked the way, I crashed and burned out. What now? What is next? Is there a next? Is this the end? Fear and anxiety overwhelmed me. Where is God in all this?
Then God’s voice broke through all the noise, clutter, and feelings. It began as a whisper, but when I did not hear, it became a loud voice. He said, “Far enough! I have something new for you. I have something different for you. I am taking you on a new journey.”
Reluctantly at first and with much pain and sorrow, I listened and heard his voice. Finally, I accepted his word and new call on my life, all while I am still grieving over the journey that I have traveled far enough.
God sent me on a new pilgrimage and brought me to a new ministry and a new community. It is a place where I could heal; a place where God is restoring and recreating me through this community and his Spirit. He brought me to a turning point from where I embarked onto a new journey, started a new adventure with God, his people, and his mission.
Therefore, Far Enough is not about the end of something but about a turning point and a new beginning. However, it is a new beginning and a new journey that is founded upon builds on learns from and grows from the journey before this turning point.
This is what this blog is about — the journey before Far Enough and the new journey after Far Enough. It shares the learning and growth experiences of these journeys hoping that it may help and encourage others in their life journeys.
I have learned that our life’s voyages never end. They only reach a point of traveling far enough in one direction. That point of far enough is a turning point, sending us off into a new path. Far enough is the starting point, the beginning of a new journey, adventure, and learning experience.