The phrase “Burn the ships” is generally credited to Captain Hernán Cortés. In 1519, he and his troops landed in Veracruz planning to conquer the Aztecs. He reportedly ordered his men to burn the ships in which they came. This action gave them no other option but to succeed (or die trying). Talk about motivation, wow! Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Cortés and his men were victorious (eventually).
Letting go of your past isn’t easily accomplished, but may be the best action you can take on the way to achieving your future. Hell, it may be the ONLY way to achieve it. You have to “burn the ships” connected to what is weighing you down.
“Burning the ships” not only lightens our burden, but also forces us to move forward. It breaks the link connecting our present self to our past hurts and errant ways.
Many of us were so deeply hurt by actions or words in our past that we can’t see the vision for our future. Holding onto these feelings/emotions is stopping us from becoming who and what we desire to be; who God created us to be. By clinging onto our past we are unable to grab our future. Again, you gotta let go!
“Burn the ships!”
Maybe you’re wondering…what motivated me to write this?
I’ve had the song titled “Burn the Ships” (coincidence?) by for King & Country stuck in my head since I heard it the first time; especially the chorus:
Send a flare into the night
Say a prayer, turn the tide
Dry your tears and wave goodbye
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back”
I think that just about says it all, right?
YouTube “Burn the Ships” video:
Dan’s View 