We travel through life in a ship or vessel of our own making. We choose its design, how we power it, and where we go with it.
Some use a raft to get through life. It floats until it’s waterlogged and is at the mercy of the waves. You can’t control where you go or when you get there. It tips or flips easily. And if you drift on a raft long enough, you don’t care what happens to you. Alcoholics and irresponsible people, are common passengers on rafts.
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A rubber dinghy is more stable than a raft. But if it gets full of holes, you’re worse off than on a raft. Dinghy people are unrealistic dreamers. They have great ideas, but don’t plan ahead, and don’t patch up the holes or problems of life as they come along.
Some people want to be a speedboat, making big waves and getting places fast. But they don’t care about others or the damage and harm their careless boating causes. They’re impatient and inconsiderate. They may get where they want in life, but hurt others on the way. If they run out of gas, they flounder.
Some people are rowboats or dories, stable and buoyant with the stamina and energy to keep moving. And they usually stick with their task. They may not be movers and shakers, but they make progress, even though it’s often slow and difficult.
Prepare for rough times
Some people are canoes, streamlined, effective and designed to cut through water cleanly. But canoeing needs a steady, smooth stroke and calm water. With heavy waves or a storm, you have to know how to adapt to the new situation or you end up in serious trouble. And if you do capsize, you need to know how to rescue yourself.
Some people want to be a cruise ship where everything is provided and you don’t have to do a thing. For most of us a cruise is a fantasy that comes true if we’re lucky. Cruise ships are always moving from port to port, never dropping anchor for long, and seldom forming permanent healthy ties.
A sailboat is a good way to tackle life. A sailor is in charge of the boat. Whichever direction the wind comes from, a sailor can tack back and forth to a destination. You use prevailing winds to your advantage. If weather gets rough, you drop the sail and drift. In a strong wind you have to lean in the opposite direction the boat to counterbalance it. You, the weather and the boat become a team, working together to get where you want to go.
Regardless of what type of ship you use, you must learn to face waves head-on. A large wave breaking over your bow may get you wet. But take a similar wave on the side and you’re in serious trouble. The more you try to ignore or deny personal problems in life or charge into them headfirst, the more you end up sabotaging yourself. Your ship is only a tool to achieve your goals. You have to set course and steer it.
