Are We Still Passengers On the mayflower?
so 400 years ago today (there is some debate about the accuracy of this based on a change from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar—Gooogle it)—the Mayflower set sail for Virginia where a number of the 102 passengers aboard could get to a place to express some religious freedom. Wait did I say Virginia? The Mayflower of course landed at Plymouth Rock—Right?....Well no... the Mayflower actually first made landfall at Cape Cod? What? Yes little sailors the ship touched the new world that had been inhabited for thousands of years by various native tribes at a place that would be known as Provincetown MAss.
However,let’s not get all caught up in that little historical blip. After all isn’t it a miracle that 102 passengers left the Mother country and 102 made it to the new land even though sailing conditions weren’t great? Well yes and no. Have you ever heard of the Speedwell? Neither has most of the world and especially most of our. United States educated population. You see that ship was supposed to be sailing with the Mayflower but didn’t make it past a few miles out of port when it broke up due to what was found to be worm rot. Also 102 passengers did not survive the voyage. Two children were born. During the journey which means—-you guessed it two others were given their blessings and became fish food. Okay...but the rest of the story about these folks fleeing spiritual. Persecution is true—has to be? Nope afraid we have to shed some light on that too. Certainly the puritans or Pilgrims were the largest minority on the ship, however the majority of passengers is now reported To be folks seeking adventure and a new start, but not for religious reasons. Oh and just for good measure we should throw in the fact that this ship that has been touted as the vessel to carry this strict holy people had in fact been most known for carrying wine.
Now before you start calling me a Killjoy..
We (here in the US have been taught a mythicalaccount of some brave folks who escaped tyranny. Oh, and it’s a great story. Yet, how about we look at an even greater story.
four hundred years ago—three weeks before the first box of Kraft Mac and Cheese hit the shelves) two shiploads of people stared out on a vast expanse of water. They couldn’t see where they were headed. They couldn’t even see where they might be. By nightfall. Only a handful of these people had any idea how to “control” the ship they were about to board and even those who had the best ideas were doing so with a full knowledge that they were a spec on this massive body of untamed waters. So we are now freaking out because we don’t know when we can get our next hair appointment? So the two ships take off and. Right away one falls way short. If you. Are on the Mayflower you just might be thinking...hmmmm...it’s a long way over there and not that far back—-but on the Mayflower sailed. What a display of curiousity, courage, and purpose that demonstrated.
Then in the middle of the trip there had to be days of rotten smelling living circumstances less than comfortable weather conditions, limited variety of food stuffs, little fresh water and worst of all dial-up internet and. Bad cell reception.
So after this long less than luxury cruise your 90-foot long floating porta-potty catches a glimpse of what is along-awaited. Destination. There is much gladness and relief. However... as you pull into the parking circle at the Ritz you discover that your have arrived at Motel 3–don’t I. Mean Motel 6–no this place was only half as good. So after this whole trip you find out that you have “failed” to reach your goal—Well now what?
The course of action chosen was to admit failure and to go forward. A bit later the Mayflower made its way to what seemed a better spot now made famous. The folks who landed didn’t. Exactly have a picnic, however that’s probably a post for a different day.
The Voyage Summarized
A bunch of individuals who had a purpose—not the same. Exact purpose—trusted a few people and their purpose and decided that curiosity, courage, and cooperation could overcome fear and uncertainty or at least. That they could accept a level of uncertainty. Even when they saw others fall short and turn back, they looked inside and said “there is something better for all of us and some of us can work together to see what happens—that’s exactly what they said they posted it on facebook live... Seriously —decisions to go on were made.
These folks that didn’t have much control over a little thing called the Atlantic Ocean persisted and just when. They saw their big payoff coming...their new promised land in Virginia... they find out they are winding up in Cape Cod and not the good part where the Kennedy clan lives a pretty crappy place they couldn’t possibly. Hope to inhabit. Now the East Coast is a big thing... They could have landed in a lot of places—-like Daytona Beach or at Myrtle Beach. It’s a good thing they didn’t land at Myrtle Beach they would have had to have Columbus make reservations well in advance of their arrival. No they. Landed at a place they couldn’t really deal with and couldn’t pull out their iPhone and ask Siri “Good Rocks to Land at near Here?”
So even with this disappointment they ventured forward and let the goal of Virginia go. They made. Landfall at a place and gave it a shot.
Now that seems like a great story... and maybe that’s what life is like?
Tomorrow I’ll have a brief post. About one of. My friend’s voyages..he didn’t wind up in Mass... but in Madison WI however in some ways maybe history repeats itself...or maybe it’s more that the curious human spirit stays strong generation after generation? More soon
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