Safe Harbour
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on this very dock, contemplating how lucky I am that my world is so safe and so comfortable compared to so many people in the world...but with each wave that splashed in to shore, the quote below kept floating into my consciousness and making me restless:
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
I wondered to myself, "Does this mean that we should leave behind everything in our lives that is safe and comfortable and only choose the risky and uncomfortable options instead?"
I don't think so; at least, not completely.
A willingness to embrace reasonable risk and occasional discomfort is what allows us to grow and change and understand something new about the world. Adventurous journeys into the unknown help us find our sea legs and develop different kinds of muscles to keep our minds and bodies in shipshape condition.
But safe harbour is where we gather between voyages to share the treasures we've found, to compare notes on the uncharted territory we've discovered and raise a glass to celebrate our safe return; a place where we can rest, repair and re-provision before our next big adventure on the high seas.
Thank heaven for safe harbours.