In 1977 NASA launched the aptly named space probe Voyager 1 to study the farthest reaches of what we casually call “outer space.” According to Wikipedia, as of January 2024, Voyager 1 was 15.2 billion—that’s billion with a capital B—miles from Earth, making it the most distant human-made object from Earth. At the same time, there is an inward journey that can’t be measured in miles because it is of a transcendent, unearthly nature.
The voyage without comes from an unquenchable human desire to know all we can about what’s “out there.” Space exploration has yielded many discoveries about our universe and how it works, as well as practical creations such as scratch resistant lenses, ear thermometers, shoe insoles, invisible braces for teeth, cordless tools, memory foam, and smoke detectors, to name only a few.
Likewise, the voyage within comes from an equally unquenchable human desire to know all we can about what’s “in there.” Photographs from space exploration have also impacted our inner world, bringing us wonder, amazement, awe, transcendent moments, and a perspective of the vastness of creation and our minuscule place in it. We join the inner journey in ways such as reading, writing, music, meditation, prayer, human connection, and engaging with the natural world.
We are all on our own outward and inward voyages. They both matter. Our outward voyage is largely manifested in the actions we take and seeks to satisfy the goals and dreams we have. A college freshman embarks on a voyage to earn a degree, then, having achieved that goal, they shift that voyage to a search for a career in which they can go from an entry-level position to an executive one and possibly beyond.
Our inward voyage is a horse of a different color as it is a quest to know oneself better and explore the inner meaning of a life with purpose and value. It is a trip into our deepest selves to discover answers to the hows and whys of existence itself. Unlike the outward voyage that focuses on doing, the inward voyage focuses more on being. It is often considered to be a spiritual quest for a mystical and divine way of knowing that transcends the facts of science in favor of seeking the possibilities and promises of that which cannot be contained in a test tube.
In my therapy practice clients often say they’re looking for meaning in life but they don’t know how to find it. I typically ask them to do an exercise I call “living backwards.” They are to imagine that they live a healthy, full life until they’re eighty years old. Then I ask what, at age eighty, they would like to be able to say about the life they lived. Sometimes that takes some homework on their part to come up with the answer(s). Once they’ve done that I tell them that every morning they are to ask themselves, “What can I do today that will move me closer to my life’s desires?” The final step is simply to go and do those things. It’s not at all unlike a person who wants to retire with a million dollars in the bank. How will they get there? By saving money consistently over time. That, my friend, helps create a map for their personal voyage through life.
We need a balance between our inner and outer voyages. They inform each other in the trek of our earthly existence. Too much or too little of either can make both useless. I’m reminded of the gospel song, “You’re So Heavenly Minded You’re No Earthly Good.”
Try seeing your life as a voyage. What’s your destination? What can you do today to make sure you get there? How will you be in this world that will make your doing count? What will you do that will take you deeper into being? It’s your voyage—your journey. Set your course wisely.
…and that’s the View from The Balcony.
Randy Weeks is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Shamanic Life Coach, an ordained minister, a singer-songwriter, and an actor. Randy may be reached at randallsweeks@gmail.com.
