At the Back of the Ferry Boat

A few of us stood at the back of the ferry boat and watched the island get smaller and smaller in the distance. The difference between me and the three guys with their dogs on the deck below, was I was sad and they looked content.

For that 40 minute ride, I looked longingly at the island we were leaving where I had the most amazing time. I wanted to hold onto it as long as I could and did not want to see where we were going, which was back to busy Seattle City. My soul had needed that slow life of seeing nothing but water and trees, hearing nothing but birds, and breathing in the fresh air feeling the cool wind on my face.

I was sad to leave it all behind. As I stood there saying “goodbye” under my breath to the island and the wonderful time before heading back to “reality,” I noticed there were a couple other guys at the back of the boat too. Only they looked like they did this often and were content with yet another ride. This was their reality.

It struck me at this moment that even though this particular boat ride wouldn’t be part of my daily or weekly commute, I could find something back home where I would get that same sense of appreciation and contentment that these guys had.

Even if we do live in the middle of a city life, it doesn’t mean we can’t find that same rest and carve out our own space to slow down. It’s our choice if we want to make our back of the ferry boat our balcony, a bench at a nearby park, or sitting in the bed of our truck parked somewhere with a view.

We don’t have to only look back longingly, but can look back with gratitude and be excited about where we are heading. Even if it is “back to reality,” we can and should make our reality also a place we look forward to with gratitude and contentment.

Thank you to these guys for reminding me to enjoy the ride. Wherever reality is that we are heading to in the moment.

What do you like at the back of the ferry boat? Do you find yourself looking back longingly for more rather than looking back with gratitude and forward with faith? Perhaps we will find more peace by piece when we create for ourselves the space we need and trust God to help us find contentment in the place where we live.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” -Isaiah 43:18-19