Purpose and Direction

Getting lost in the wilderness whether it’s the mountains, the seas, the forests or the swamps can be very trying, physically and emotionally. It has been said that the body can endure a lot of mistreatment but the mind is truly fragile. Getting lost can be prevented by simple preparation. Let’s discuss the simple yet effective device that has assisted lost adventurers for centuries; that device is the compass.

A compass is a magnetic device, typically a pointer that indicates, using the planet’s magnetosphere, north. The compass is typically a surefire way to locate north. The only problem with the Compass is that it’s completely useless unless you know where you’re trying to go. Knowing where north is won’t do any good unless you know what direction you should be headed.

Using the example of a hiker who was lost in the Uintah Mountains in 2008 we can find some valuable information. The adventurous hiker, with years of hiking behind him had gotten lost in unfamiliar territory. Given his experience in hiking he was well prepared for the journey to the summit but he lacked any type of direction on his descent given his unfamiliarity with the area. His compass worked fine but his knowledge of the land or where the meeting point was didn’t exist. After becoming separated from his group he ended up miles from the meeting point. Night came and he had to prepare a makeshift bed and blind to be protected from the cold winds that were to come. The man luckily survived two nights in the mountains and was rescued because of a talented, experienced search and rescue team. Unlike this hiker, there have been many who have lost their lives seeking for direction home only to feel as if they are walking in circles.

Having a compass is important to a hiker in that assists them in knowing the direction to find their way; but it becomes useful if and only if the direction to where they should be headed is known. There are many of us that are like the hiker; we may have the tools to find our way but we don’t know where we should be headed.

Success can be found in knowing where you want to be and then using the tools you have to get there. All the tools in the world are of no use unless you know how to use them or why you should use them. Look at your mind as your compass; it’s a powerful instrument that if used correctly can achieve monumental results. Locking into your true potential is accomplished when you understand your purpose and direction. You must know where you want to go to get there. In addition to knowing your direction and purpose, like the rescue team finding the lost hiker, those that are prepared and know their direction will have great joy and purpose when assisting in the rescuing of others that may have become lost.