Every man a captain...

There is a man who is on a ship; this ship is in well order and runs smoothly, everything has its time and its function. This man sails the waters carelessly, and he seems to be confident in his ability to sail. He has seen his share of tempestuous weather, and knows that the easy days of calm waters and smooth sailing will inevitably change with time.

He is alone on his ship. He keeps himself busy attending to the daily maintenance of ship and correcting its course; during these times working on the deck, in the sun, life is good. His mind is occupied by the things that keep him busy. At night when the winds calm, and the sails are down, he makes his way below deck, steeps a cup of tea, sits in his bed, and reads.

It is not long before the man becomes drowsy and decides to call it a night. As he lies in bed, trying to succumb to the sleepy rocking of the ship, his mind becomes active. The man knows that his mind, his faithful companion, can be his worst enemy. His mind whispers to him that he is ultimately alone, not only on his ship or in the middle of the ocean, but in life. This is the truth that the man hides from and tries to suppress through his work. He knows it is true though. His ship is well organized, and his course is set, but the destination he does not know and the reason for sailing he knows not either. Life is too evanescent. Eventually sleep overtakes mind.

Although the nights are the worst, they fall to time. His hope is found in the morning when he will come out from below the deck into the cool morning air and stand in the effulgence of the rising sun. Each day he chooses to continue setting a course. Each day he chooses…