To Reach This Shore

For hundreds of years, and probably longer, people have risked their lives to cross that ocean and walk on the shores of North America. Some set sail by choice, others by force. To some this shore might have meant hope, to others despair. How many souls vanished in that ocean taking with them their hopes and dreams and fears? And, here I stand as if it's nothing.

The connected world overwhelms me. Without people trying by any means possible and failing by every means possible, we would not be moving effortlessly from sea to sea. I take it for granted that I can step on a ship that floats or flies and be on the other side of the ocean with virtually no risk. Five hundred years ago, what courage must it had taken to set sail in a wooden boat to navigate this sea?

I have no problems. I have no great risk to do venture anywhere. Those problems and risks were burdened by people who had nothing compared to what we discard as out of date today. We are the caretakers of this beach today. We don't own it. I'm grateful to have visited it and contemplated my life here today. I'm grateful people reached this shore when it was near impossible.