A Visionary’s Voyage

by Patricia Huey

“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”—Andre Gide

Columbus Day

Last month, I mentioned that we show faith by taking the first step even when we can’t see the final destination. As a homeschooling parent, you are a visionary about a month into your teaching journey, steering your children along their academic path. You are the captain of your ship, and your kids are your crew. You’re headed in the right direction because you have stepped out in faith. II Corinthians 5:7 states, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (NKJV).

Christopher Columbus was also a visionary on a journey five hundred and thirty-two years ago. He displayed faith to launch forth. He had a goal like you and could not see his destination. It’s common knowledge that Columbus’s destination was interrupted by a whole new continent that appeared before him on his voyage. And while things didn’t quite go as planned, Columbus found that continent full of beauty and wonder. What a blessing that continent has been for so many! A fantastic new country would come out of Columbus’s voyages–one that, I think we can all agree, is special. Sometimes, God changes our course. Proverbs 16: 9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps” (NKJV).

“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.”—Christopher Columbus

The Discovery

Christopher Columbus is famous for discovering the American continent for Europeans on October 12, 1492. He was not the first outsider to reach North America; in the 11^th century, the Vikings commanded by Leif Erickson had sailed around Greenland and the eastern Canadian shores. The Vikings observed the land—they did not formally document their discovery, nor did they claim it for an authority or cause. They kept their discovery a secret. On the other hand, Columbus spread the news about his discovery, kept a journal, and brought back proof.

Columbus had a strong sense of destiny at an early age. He was a self-taught map maker who envisioned a shortcut to India. He planned to go west to get to India rather than east. He felt it would be shorter and cheaper to do so because the expedition would be done entirely by sea. After seven years of trying, he convinced the king and queen of Spain to support his idea. Columbus’ years of perseverance paid off. But there was one problem. The crew he had been granted had hardly any experience. His crew was not convinced that Columbus’s plan was good, and most thought Columbus was out of his mind. Despite that issue, on August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail on the Atlantic. At that time, most ships hugged the coast of Africa, feeling more secure on that route to India. But not Columbus, who set sail into the Atlantic on a daring voyage. After two months of sailing, there was still no sign of land. The men on the ship were scared and close to mutiny. Columbus convinced his men to persevere for a few more days. A lookout alerted the crew that land was on the horizon three days later.”

In his Tuesday, November 27, 1492, journal entry, Columbus wrote:

“The loveliness of this country, Your Majesties, is so marvelous; it surpasses all others in amenity and beauty as daylight exceeds night. I have said repeatedly to my men that, whatever efforts I make to tell Your Majesties about it, my tongue could not tell the whole truth, or my hand set it down. Truly, I was dumbfounded by the sight of so much beauty and find myself unable to describe it adequately.” https://amauta.info/files/columbus journal2.pdf

Because of his mistake, Columbus wasn’t in India. He was on one of the islands off the coast of America, which he named San Salvador (Island of the Holy Savior). Columbus made two more voyages, eventually reaching the mainland of America.

Christopher Columbus opened North America to European exploration and immigrants interested in leaving Europe for a better life. How could Columbus have seen God’s plan for a nation that would be established on Christian principles three hundred years later?

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

–Robert F. Kennedy

The Controversy

One would have to be removed entirely from the media to be unaware of the Columbus controversy. Some states opt to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day rather than Columbus Day. It has been reported that young people have torn down Columbus’s statues. I can’t blame those young people, who have likely been taught a revised version of history. I can’t help but wonder if they have been taught to review history for themselves rather than having someone tell them about history. Primary sources are more accurate than secondary sources.

Like all human beings, Columbus had character flaws. He was one of the first well-known Europeans to become involved in slavery, which, of course, was wrong. He was also quite focused on finding gold. Still, God used Columbus for His glory.

God didn’t excuse Columbus’ sin any more than He excuses our own sins. But He enables us to overcome and continue our endeavors, whether exploring new worlds or homeschooling our children.

“By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.”—Christopher Columbus

The Long-term Effects of Columbus’ Discovery

Rather than focusing on Christopher Columbus’ character flaws, perhaps we should look at history for ourselves and delve into the long-term effects of his discovery. Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day are notable for the following reasons:

He demonstrated great courage by venturing into unknown territory
He demonstrated extreme perseverance
He demonstrated amazing navigational skills
His discovery made what seemed impossible possible
His discovery paved the way for a Christian nation

History proves that Columbus’ courage in crossing the Atlantic Ocean is commendable. His journey could be compared to the 1969 moon landing. Columbus was a great man because, like the Apollo 11 astronauts, he dared to show mankind how to do something that seemed impossible: sail across an unknown ocean.

Homeschool Activities

Why not spend time this October researching Christopher Columbus and his discoveries with your children? Below are a few activities. Happy sailing!

To learn about true American history as a family, watch “A Brave New World & Christopher Columbus,” the first of a three-part series entitled “The American Story.” https://www.theepochtimes.com/epochtv/the-american-story

Take a look at excerpts of Columbus’ journals, teaching that it’s better to look at original documents (primary sources) to learn history rather than to have someone tell you the information (secondary information). https://amauta.info/files/columbus journal2.pdf

Teach your crew how to use a compass. Columbus was able to sail the Atlantic because of the discovery of the compass. https://www.teachingexpertise.com/k-5/compass-activities-for-elementary-students/

Visit a park with your kids to map out the place. Add any buildings, large trees, or lakes and ponds in the north, south, east, and west. Bring back “artifacts” from the trip. Use a compass.

Help your children create a map of Columbus’ three voyages, or go to https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org for a Christopher Columbus interactive map