“It is not so much that the boat passed
and you failed to notice it.
It is more like the boat stopping
directly outside your bedroom window,
the captain blowing the signal-horn,
the band playing a rousing march.
The boat shouted, waving bright flags,
its silver hull blinding in the sunlight.
But you had this idea you were going by train.
You kept checking the time-table,
digging for tracks.
And the boat got tired of you,
so tired it pulled up the anchor
and raised the ramp.
The boat bobbed into the distance,
shrinking like a toy—
at which point you probably realized
you had always loved the sea.”
~ Naomi Shihab Nye – Different Ways to Pray
It is sad that so often we miss the boat because we weren’t looking, we weren’t aware, we lived in our own world, or maybe it is that someone told us we will go by train or maybe not at all. Great post.
So true Bill and I’ve had several folks drop by my office today with the same comment. Thanks and take care.
This is fantastic! So many of us miss the boat because it’s not what we thought we wanted. A gift sent directly to you that you’ve turned away. How many good opportunities are lost because of this!