“There are parts of a ship which taken by themselves would sink. The engine would sink. The propeller would sink. But when the parts of a ship are built together, they float.
So with the events of my life.
Some have been tragic. Some have been happy. But when they are built together, they form a craft that floats and is going someplace. And I am comforted.”
- Clergyman Ralph Washington Sockman, pastor, speaker and writer
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My mom gave me this written on a card today because she thought it represented where I’m at in my life and spiritual journey. I loved it instantly and my first thought was I wanted to share it with you, my wonderful readers.
I think these words are incredibly wise and I know they definitely apply to my life. I’ve had propellers thrown at me. I couldn’t swim. I’ve sunk so low I nearly drowned. I persevered and learned how to swim. I felt the exhilaration of surfing the most powerful waves. And am now I’m trying to learn how to float in any weather and water conditions.
All of these times have made me who I am and are part of the rich tapestry of life. They will be passed down as lessons learned to my son (I’m probably being hopeful in thinking that he’ll listen to me) and will push me forward to new horizons I can barely dream of now. The thought fills me with hope and breathless anticipation and I look forward to a vast and open ocean of life that is waiting for me to discover all its treasures.
And because the new US President elect, Barack Obama, also fills me with hope and anticipation, I dedicate this post to him and all my American subscribers. I hope your nation and your families have only brighter days ahead.
I”ll leave you with my favorite segment of Obama’s historic and inspiring speech last night.
“I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy…
… who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
This is your victory. “
Amen to the power of hope and democracy.
Kelly 
Photo by sachman75
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Kelly - what a brilliant quote - and so true. I guess that’s what life’s about, finding all the parts that will work together. The elections were exciting weren’t they? I think the fact that Obama was elected has given hope to us all. He has shown us that if we really want to achieve something, anything is possible, despite the odds.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Heroes Of Healing: Napoleon Hill
How nice!! Your mom sure gave you a great gift! She sounds like she knows you very well. I also like how you weaved the hope that Obama inspires into your post!
May all your dreams come true!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..The Lipstick Indicator To Great Wealth
An inspiring quote! And I’m glad to know that other nations even like the elected president! He stands for dream that do come true!
What a wonderful quote and I can completely relate. I haven’t liked going through the difficult times but have probably learned more from them than any other experiences.
I highly recommend that people watch Obama’s full speech on youtube or read the entire transcript of it. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/11/05/barack-obamas-victory-speech/
One of my favorite parts was
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.”
I just hope people don’t expect everything to be fixed in 6 months and then give up him if it isn’t. I think he is going to be more to the center than many of us would like but that’s the only way he will be able to be reelected again in 4 years.
I think he may be more popular around the world than he is in the United States. While he pulled away with the electoral vote the popular vote was pretty close.
I am proud to say that my in my ward in Philadelphia that 96.6% of the vote went to him.
I wrote a post the day of the election talking about my nervous feelings that includes a couple of pictures of lines at polling places and the Obama party bus, if you are interested. http://www.kimwoodbridge.com/election-2008-a-bundle-of-excited-edgy-nerves/
Kim Woodbridge’s last blog post..Twitter Direct Messages - Is this Personal and Private Information?
@Cath
Yes, I went to an election party over here and saw Obama’s speech live. It was thrilling.
@Evelyn
I hope all my dreams come true too, but for now I am also very happy that I’m a lucky little vegemite, as we say in Australia
@B.C
I think Bush was so unpopular internationally that this change will affect how other countries and citizens feel about America in general. And yes, Obama and his story is especially inspiring.
Kelly
It’s wonderful that you are looking forward to the future. I sometimes feel scared of the future… like my life is perfect now and I just wish I could stop the clock. Your attitude is healthier, I think.
Vered - MomGrind’s last blog post..How To Get More Subscribers, And Why You Shouldn’t Bother
Hi Kelly. Thanks for sharing this gift from your mother. This whole election has been an interesting experience for me. First off, I live in Canada and haven’t actively followed it. But it was hard to not hear tidbits about it on the news or from friends’ emails. I have trouble getting interested in politics. But I do have to say that I feel Obama’s election is having quite an effect. Although I haven’t been drawn into too much of the coverage, I can feel America heaving a sigh of relief. I think good things are ahead. And the word “hope” is a big part of this.
Davina’s last blog post..Akemi Gaines On Intuition, Dreams And Spiritual Guidance–Interview Part 1
@Kim Woodbridge
I was lucky enough to watch the whole speech live, and yes every bit of it was inspiring. Myself and the people I was with were mostly brought to tears by the enormity of it all. A real moment in history witnessed and absolute proof that democracy is alive and kicking in the good old US of A.
@Vered
I think that maybe you can flip that attitude so instead of focusing on the fear, when the thoughts come up think “Wow, how great is my life now”. Maybe if you use this to practise gratitude that will help the fear of negative changes.
@Davina
I hope good things are ahead for all of us, and I firmly believe you have to hang onto your hope no matter the circumstances.
Kelly
Kelly so true this quote. Life - is it not wonderful? I watched as Barack Obama gave his speech to the people and I feel honoured to have been able to see him become The President in my life time. I have so wanted to see equality rein and these are little steps bit by bit in this vast world. Congratulations to the man himself for sticking to his dreams and making it happen.
Hey Kelly, that quote was beautiful. I like it a lot and can see that analogy in my own life. Parts of it look crummy, other parts are great, but when everything is put together, the outlook is different and for some, even inspiring. too, i guess this is how we can all look at people, not individual faults, but the entire package. we will have less to complain about for sure.
Natural’s last blog post..Finger Clicking Good’gaud That Hurts!
Hope and excitement for the future are so much fun to live with. They challenge and inspire.
@Vered:
Re: your not wanting your perfect life to change. I’d recommend reading The Comfort Trap by Judith Sills. She talks about that fear of the future based on comfort - which can be happy or unhappy comfort.
Cheers,
Alex
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Improvising Life: Do You Play Along?
I love this Kelly - all of it - the quote, your life, the lessons to be passed on, and the part of the speech you shared from president-elect Obama’s speech. It’s all very powerful stuff, and a reminder to me that the events of my life make me who I am today. And that’s a good thing to remember…
Lance’s last blog post..Fear: Does It Hold You Back?
@Roz
I couldn’t agree more. Amen to that
@Natural
I think a lot of misery in the world and people’s inner lives comes from focusing on the negative bits rather than the positive, or even the whole. I think this is where gratitude comes in. We will feel instantly better if we can take in the holistic picture of our life and be grateful for all that we have now. Even when times are bad there’s something to be grateful for. Sometimes maybe it’s the lesson itself.
@Alex
Great to see you back. Hope you had a fantastic break
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I love the quote and that is wonderful that you received it from your mom. Yes, your son will listen to you… it’s only the direct requests they usually choose to ignore but the life lessons I have found get taken very seriously!
I, too am VERY inspired by Obama’s win and I am very grateful he will be the next US President!
Thanks for sharing and I wish you all the best for the future!
Love, Jenny
Jenny Mannion’s last blog post..Art — Spiritual and Healing
Hi Kelly: Beautiful quote Kelly. I think that it also points out that we need to develop our strengths so that we don’t sink even when we occasionally let our weaknesses take control of the steering wheel (as we all do once in a while).
Marelisa’s last blog post..The Secret of Unbridled Creativity
@Lance
Glad to be ale to help you increase your appreciation for today
@Jenny
I hope you’re right about Bunny. He’s so contrary sometimes I pray that when I really need him to listen to me that he won’t choose to do the opposite to my advice just for the heck of it.
@Marelisa
Perfectly said. Our weaknesses will sometimes take the wheel, won’t they so we better have some strengths to counter that. You’re such a smart and wise woman, Marelisa
Kelly
Hey Kelly
Good stuff! It reminds me of a few more quotes:
* Stand strong when tested
* it’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up.
* A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.
I like your choice of picture. It’s powerful and compelling — forging ahead.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..How To Develop Your Intuition
Loved the quote, too. My husband and I often talk about the strong winds of our life making the sailboat move along faster, whereas calm winds won’t get you very far. Kinda like this one: “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.”~John A. Shedd
SpaceAgeSage — Lori’s last blog post..Can the disconnect be stopped or is it too late?
Very nice quote. A fantastic post! thank you for sharing!
Mark Salinas’s last blog post..The Road Less Traveled
@J.D and SpaceAgeSage
“A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” I have never heard this quote before - I love it. Very insightful. And Lori, I haven’t though about it like that before, but you’re right, strong winds do propel us forward, much as we may like to complain about them
@Mark
Glad you liked it
Kelly
Hi Kelly - I love that quote as well as the photograph. There’s so much truth in those words, and in yours, as well. We often hit storms in our lives when we feel like we’re sinking, but if we use our patience, determination and perseverance, we can ride them out and before we know it, we’re in a safe harbor.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NSNBOTWs - 2 Gals From Down Under
I very much appreciated your quote and I love your comments on other folks blogs. I have been reading for awhile but not subscribed until recently. I don’t comment often on fiction unless it really jumps out at me, so I will start my comments here
I am reminded of Gary Zukov’s book The Seat of the Soul. He believes, he is a physics person and soldier, who believes birth is when we become little ships broken off from the Mother Ship to carry out a life plan; when we die our little ship is absorbed into the Mother Ship until we are transformed into a new little ship. This does not help me with why the earth is so overpopulated.
Brianne Swimme says we are 98% energy and 2% mass….interesting ideas..
And I think Obama is going to talk about hope, and I hope that all the little election volunteer ships stay in the water and get involved and stay in life and then I think we will have a new beginning and a future. Lots of folks are attempting to keep the energy and the work high…I think this is good.
Lovely post, and it is nice to read about a daughter who appreciated her Mother’s gift….does a Mother good
@Barbara
Isn’t it amazing how perfect an analogy ships and the ocean are for life? And it’s very easy for me to relate to because I love both.
@Patricia
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. Welcome to SHE-POWER! I haven’t read any Gary Zukov before I don’t think, though I am familiar with ‘The Seat of the Soul’. I like his ideas about the mother ships and us all breaking off to go on a journey and then coming back. It relates closely to what I have always believed. Thank you for subscribing and I hope to see more of you in the comments section
Kelly
Aloha Kelly,
My favorite quote by Helen Keller seems so fitting with the election of Barack Obama as our next President of the USA. “Faith is the strength by which a shatterd world shall emerge into the light.” My hope for the future is that Barack Obama will bring us towards that light!
Mahalo,
Yvonne