Dead Reckoning

Dead Reckoning.

It sounded apocalyptical when I first heard it, like an episode out of the Walking Dead.

It ended up being less cool, but more interesting.

Dead Reckoning is the navigational process, often used at sea, of coordinating your current position by remembering how you got there.

It traces back to sea-faring voyages over 3,000 years ago, when ancient ancestors of the Polynesians assigned someone the duty of sitting in a monk-like trance at the back of the vessel.

That someone was responsible for recording and remembering every detail of their journey.

And when I say every detail, I mean every single detail…

Every gust of wind. Every shift in the boat’s direction. Every movement of the sun, moon, and stars. Every change in the water’s color. Every passing bird. Everything.

Each of these details committed to memory by our monk-like friend sitting in the back of the boat, in the exact order of observation.

Never before had a nap been so dangerous to so many.

I’ve been thinking of how this idea of Dead Reckoning applies to my life.

Our life trajectory is under constant siege by forces large and small. Those forces manifest as events, choices, influences, and more.

Those forces threaten to alter our course, debilitate self-correction, and inevitably aim to lead us astray.

How do we fight back against such forces?

Disciplined self-reflection.

To understand our current position, we must first understand how we got there in the first place.

How often do we reflect on where we came from? Or where we’re going?

What series of events, choices, and influences are working to shift the direction of our lives?

Most of us live like zombies, sleepwalking through life. Lacking awareness and existing aimlessly. External forces dictating our course.

But there are a hearty few who live wide-eyed and awake to the world around them. Diligent enough to dutifully consider these forces, and brave enough to counteract them.

They leverage the power of Dead Reckoning by understanding from where they came, where they are, and where they’re going next.

Life doesn’t happen to them.

They live intentionally, purposefully, and impactfully.

To them belongs a profound sense of dignity.