"S ecurity vs. anxiety: Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away."

What is square one? It is our foundation; the starting point. Often, the premise for our project is not complete and we return to square one to reevaluate our theories. We always return to square one stronger, better informed and more fully equipped.

Five hundred and twenty years ago, technology wasn't even a term. But, for one young man, there were indestructible things to measure his theory. If the tide went out and came back, was it true the world was flat? If the sun rose each day and went down another way, was not the world round? If the North Star could be seen every season of the year, would it not be seen far away in the West Indies?

Christopher Columbus had the information and foundation he needed for square one. In order to get to square two, a boat and a crew, he had a bit of convincing to do with people who had what he needed for this tour. He approached several kings and queens of the day. It was hard to find those interested in ventures outside of their own little corner of the world.

However, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain heard a different refrain. The riches of the West Indies appealed to them. Not only spices, but gold perhaps? New peoples, new lands! They granted Columbus three ships, the Nina (small) the Pinta (smaller) and the Santa Maria (the bigger one) and their crews, supplies, including rum, part of the daily ration and pay for some 90 hardy men. They sailed for the West Indies Aug. 3, 1492.


Square three was on the sea, with only the North Star and a sextant to guide the tenuous troop. After weeks of sailing only one man seemed sure of the effort's outcome: Christopher Columbus. He wrote in his captain's log, Sept. 24, 1492 and I paraphrase: "I'm having serious trouble with the crew. I am told by a few trusted men (these are few in number!) that if I persist in going forward [the crew] will toss me into the sea some night. But I hold to what I know in my heart to be true. I believe that which I have set out to do will be completed to the benefit of all peoples and my fair Queen." Indeed, just over two weeks later, Oct. 11, 1492, the crew spotted land.

Square four had been reached! America, the Beautiful! The Florida Key Islands! A flag of Spain was planted in what we know as San Salvador. Admiral Columbus made subsequent trips westward landing in Honduras, Venezuela and Mexico. Controversy surrounds his work, today, but we know his premise was sound: the world IS round!

And, your dream? No telling what can happen in 520 years, but there is always square one!

Ivy Joy Johnson, sedgco.character@pctelcom.coop, is the director of the Sedgwick County Character Council, which promotes the character traits of Character First. Find out more at CharacterFirst.com.