After spending time anchored in safe and quite surroundings, we turn our heads and gaze at the sea once more. We have unfinished business and our ship is ready to sail.
We leave port looking for new adventures and new environments in which to trade our goods and we believe that this time we will make better choices, be more careful and less hurtful.
We come across ships willing to barter, but we stay away. “I don’t trust them”, “they will trick us”, “I don’t want what they have”. We become drifters and so time goes.
We come across ships carrying the same load as we do ourselves, and we avoid confrontation in fear of the known. After all, we don’t need what they are carrying, since we carry it ourselves.
But after spending time in lonesomeness we realize that we must engage in dealing with other vessels. We can’t survive on our own, and maybe we can find someone willing to trade our goods for something else. So we become searchers.
We meet ships with whom we trade; even if it is random without any promises of ever doing it again, we get what we need out of it, if not what we most deeply desire. We lower our thresholds and we don’t care what they look like or what they have in store. We need temporary relief and exchange of goods.
We trade with ships as damaged as ourselves, and it leaves only emptiness inside that we don’t need right now. After a while when we have settled our most basic needs, we stop what we do. It gives us nothing of value.
So once again we become drifters. It turns out we where not ready to deal with the outer world on its own premises again.
After drifting for months and maybe even years, out of the blue comes a vessel so fine. With a host that matches our selves perfectly. It feels so good that we forget our load in the bottom of the hull and it never occurs to us to display it.
We have managed to gain good value over time and this time we engage as much as we can. We agree with the other ship that we should join forces. Together we can make better in this hostile world, and we can share the loads we come across and we can better fight of external difficulties now that we are two.
Our new partner agrees. New, prosperous and better times are awaiting us.
1 kommentar:
I have been working within shipping business for 10 yeas and I am still filled with a loving admiration for these floating giants.
They seem to be strong, independent and powerful when they enter and cut the water surface. But they still need a strong hand and sober mind to steer them and give direction.
They may cross several oceans, numerous seas, they seem to be so free. But they still have a flag, they belong a definite country. These strong man-made creatures are able to fight a perfect storm and conquer all obstacles, but they still need a shelter and -a safe harbor. And someone waiting for them in this harbor where they can dry-dock, get pampering and support. Relax and charge. Prepare for the next dangerous and exciting adventure.
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