Beauty in the Forgotten

Last summer my husband and I toured the Canadian East Coast. We were amazed by the many captivating scenes... the majestic Atlantic ocean, the unique rock formations at Hopewell, seaside villages large and small, military and various other historical sites and of course the rugged beauty of the Cabot trail. Yet the image that I found most captivating and seemed to represent the land and the people we met was none of these. It was a boat.

The old boat spoke to me of fishing ventures long passed... of loud laughter, shanty tunes and the constant unpredictability of the sea. Now with paint peeling, rust creeping in, faded wooden beams as its only support and being situated beside an old railway line headed nowhere it seemed forgotten. Yet the water was calm and sparkling, and the sunset was breathtaking as the last beams of sunlight streamed through the long-neglected windows. It moved me to pay homage to the spunky vessel, once filled with hard working fishermen, working their nets with hopes of catching enough crabs or lobsters to pay another month's rent.

We can sometimes feel a sense of abandonment too. We can feel tired, worn out and propped up precariously by our ever changing roles as life progresses. Children grow up and pursue their own lives, parents die, friends move away, and our health may not be what it once was... Yet we are still surprised by beauty in the most unexpected places. Watch for it and don't miss out. I am thankful for every day and every new opportunity to find it wherever it may be... Even in an old fishing boat.