A lot of ships can come our way as we set sail and navigate through uncharted waters
to discover adventure, treasure, new worlds...a future.
It's interesting how an all but forgotten mode of transportation can be and is used to describe the manner in which we embark on our personal journeys. I have never given the matter much thought to be honest, but it dawned upon me that the most valuable developments or at least the ones that we impose the most value upon all end up ending in "ship".
Some of us construct our vessels with flimsy materials and bond them together with hopeful wishes and naive thoughts. Others stumble upon previously owned boats, trusting the reassurances that they are, in fact, sea-worthy and going against gut instinct, we boldly set sail.
No matter what the case, venturing off into the oceans of opportunity and the seas of fate is a task that should not be taken lightly. It would be wise, one would conclude, to seek knowledge from seafaring, hardened individuals that would pass on their knowledge in an attempt to prevent a sinking.
But as novices, we willfully throw caution to the wind, ignoring the fact that the legs we walk on are barely strong enough to support us on land, and the sea legs we inevitably need to survive, haven't a chance in Hell to be developed before our Maiden Voyage.
Yet we cast off nonetheless and set sail regardless...
Ultimately, the only outcome is a shipwreck. We fail to notice the incoming storms, we neglect to heed the ominous signs in the sky that the wise skipper pays attention to and the capable seaman is superstitious of, we ignore the brewing froth before us...
and we sail directly into that which will capsize and wreck us.
The green seafarers will have a change of heart and will opt to remain on land for the rest of their adventuring careers.
The nautically aware will bear with chins held high, being stranded isn't entirely hopeless as long as someone happens to pass by...they hold high spirits and pray, knowing that eventually they will be rescued. And they know that they will have to hold onto the hope until they are found, for to give up will only result in despair.
The wisened sailors will take comfort in knowing that things could have been much worse...
they could be lost at sea, never to be found.
