Throughout history, there have been those who pushed the boundaries and led the way to discover new lands and expand our understanding of the world around us. The excitement, fear and anticipation all driven by one desire… Exploration of the unknown.

All men are explorers at heart; desiring to uncover something of unique value.

But the reality is that while exploring, we will encounter moments where we are in need; and while the needs will vary by man, we can expect most to fall into two categories.

First, the need for support

Do you ever wonder why we seldom hear of an expedition setting off with a crew of one? It’s because it would be foolish to put oneself on a path that could end dangerously with no one around to help. The fact is, all successful exploration teams have one thing in common; they are not made up of one. Men, we weren’t meant to do this alone; We must embrace this, understanding if we are ever to reach our desired destination, it will only be by having a diverse and strong team surrounding us; not only to experience the journey with, but also to rely on when things gets tough.

Secondly, we will face the need for direction.

We can even likely hear the familiar questions now as we read this…

Where am I? Where am I going? How do I get there?

A map is one of the most important tools associated with navigation; surely what one needs to answer these questions and reach new lands. Early explorers travelling into new territory would survey the land and create maps to be used by future travellers; a method we now call cartography. This work continues by many today and is the reason we are able to navigate our world so seamlessly.

But like those first explorers entering into uncharted lands with no directions or sense as to what would be uncovered; don’t we as men feel the same when faced with exploring the uncharted depths of our own heart? That deep unknown within us

Maybe instead of ‘where am I?‘ The question we may be facing in this place is ‘who am I?’ and when asked we are often stopped in our tracks with little sense of understanding.

Like any frontier, this one deserves the proper mapping. We can call it core cartography… the mapping of our heart. Laying our deepest areas out on a grid to survey and establish the way.

We would be wise to take our time with this precious location. Trusting not in our own understanding, but looking to Him who Proverbs 3 says will ‘make our paths straight’

Without our diligence and accuracy in this work, not only will we never be able to find our way, but others will never know the way to us.

To begin, we must identify our heart’s key landmarks and become familiar with each and every one; these are the various places of hurt, inspiration, regret and hope that resides within us all.

From there, we can determine the proper scale and value of each area; establishing the best and safest routes to travel throughout; avoiding those pitfalls we have all fallen into many times before.

Finally, we must title our map… Rightfully naming who we are; the unique and incredible landscape within.

By the time we are done, navigating our heartland should be just as familiar as any other daily route we travel on and allow others to do the same with ease.

Incredible discoveries await us, in our…Core Odyssey