Here is an excerpt from writing done while sailing. Please read to the end and answer the question posed. Enjoy! H
The deceptively simple sail is a technological wonder. Dense threads—hammered together under force—prevent even the most determined blow from penetrating the weave. The fabric is able to withstand years of direct sunlight and the corrosive forces of salt water. Engineers shaped the triangle like an airplane wing to force the stream of air on the backside to move faster—at a greater distance in the same amount of time—than the puff of wind across the front. So the laws of physics—wind against an asymmetrical plane—draw the boat forward.
But the sail’s greatest gift is its voice, the way it talks to me underway. A hushed “dut—dut—dut” fluttering along the leading edge whispers that the wind is shifting forward; I must trim the fabric, pull it tighter to the air. “Bang, snap!” describes a fickle breeze coming from near the bow. It is time to alter course, tacking away decisively from the wind’s source. A molar-jarring “THWAACK-rattle-rattle” reports the air has quit. Without the stabilizing force of a sea breeze the equipment is at risk of slamming itself—or me—to death as the boat rocks atop the waves. Then, the only wise action is to drop the sail, secure the boom, and motor.
I didn’t always understand the language of my sail. At first, I didn’t even know to listen. Then came a period of figuring out how to interpret what I heard. Sometimes what the sail said wasn’t convenient so I discounted its input. But in time I realized the sail punctuates the truth of the present moment and the reality of the wilderness is nonnegotiable. I heed my sail’s advice to protect my safety and comfort.
This schooling was more than a sailor’s education; it was a reverential journey into nature. It took years of trial and error, the acceptance of both ease and terror, and the ability to put my enthusiasm in check to develop judgment. Through it all, the mainsail was an ally, an ambassador to the wilderness, a Buddha. Now, I embrace the counsel of my angular go-between so that I might fathom the natural order of the universe and tune into divine wisdom pervading all things.
Here’s a question for you: Do you have an ambassador to the wilderness? What connects you to divine wisdom?
