Grisham's Lessons #15 Going Adrift

In chapter 10 of Legend of Crystal Cove, Larry describes a scene where the kids set anchor just outside of what they believe to be Crystal Cove. Having come across good information while in Grisham’s shed, and solved a missing piece in the puzzle out at Dead Man’s, The Island Gang leaves Raft Island firmly committed to accomplishing a worthwhile goal. Anxiousness leads to distractions and rash decisions.

Reading the chapter one will find that a good amount of planning and preparation was put into the event, yet a small error was made. When dropping the anchor they neglect to remember that it is low tide, and don’t leave enough line to accommodate the changes that will take place through the night. The changing tide sends them drifting with the currents, and by morning they are far from their intended location.

This same phenomenon plays out in life. Something gains our interest so we do our homework, learn more about it, make some plans, and head out. Along the way it sometimes happens that we get distracted, and thinking that we are firmly anchored, we take a little detour, quite certain that we are well anchored and will wake up right where we left off and continue the journey; only to find that while were distracted we drift so far from our intended destination that nothing around us is even recognizable.

The lesson is to check and double check our heading monthly, weekly, daily … even hourly if need be. If we find that we are even the slightest off course, we must immediately make every effort required until course correction is achieved.