Our Beautiful Blue Boat Home

A Delightful Surprise

As I move into the final quarter of my seventh decade on Planet Earth, I notice that I need more fallow time than I used to, especially as the larger political events swirl. Political realities arrive regularly in my consciousness --bidden or unbidden. News diets help, but... well. The reality is always there.

I haven't rested well until recently. Waking at 4am. Could not go back to sleep.

This is not just due to politics. A year ago our farm mates announced that they were considering a move to Panama. This set in motion a series of events. It's been a whirlwind--From the moment of their announcement until now. For starters, it’s been a huge physical job: farm and structure clean-up, home repairs--at first in readiness for a potential sale as a likely option--and then to our eventual household move (from one home to the other on our property--but still...). I completed over 600 projects in ten months. This was is in addition to the usual twenty or so projects each month of regular farm tasks. All told, my body logged an average of 14,000 steps a day and cleared out two decades of accumulation in less than a year. Whew!

I learned that one cannot sort through accumulation without the accompanying emotional sorting. So there is that too. Needless to say, I entered this particular political landscape already tired—from politics (national and local), from family matters and life events, and of course from all that work on the farm.

The good news: Loretta and I developed a plan to sustain ourselves on site, and now new farm mates join us. So here we plant ourselves --exactly where we need to be right now in these times.

At long last, I found my footing, enough for us to travel to visit my son and his family in Albuquerque. We traveled by car, a long trip, which offered time to think. I hoped that I might glean some insights or discover pearls of wisdom, maybe enough to share. That isn’t what happened.

Much can be said about the United States of America at this time, as challenging as the situation is, but I found that others said it better, or I reached into the well and grasped onto the same old pearls--things I've already said the last time we found ourselves in this position. This time, though, it seemed that I was less idealistic, and more jaded, wisened, and aware. And the circumstances are more dire.

My main insight from this journey is what I STAND for. What I love. I’ll share all of that soon enough, maybe the next post. For now, the net of this reflection is this:

I refuse to succumb to fear. I refuse to let others steal my joy and possibility. And I vow to stand for all that I love and for those who need my voice. All this starts with two things: self-care and courage.

So for now, in the interest of protecting frogs, vulnerable people, and all manner of life on Earth, here in The Frog Doctrine, I'll share insights as they emerge: on the topics of deep capacity-building (self care, community connection), and resources that sustain me, particularly those that make me smile, and especially those that spark JOY.

And the Universe responds to commitment. We returned home from Albuquerque to find a package waiting. I pre-ordered it months ago. And there it was, just waiting for our return! A book. The words in this illustrated children's book are from my favorite song (by Peter Mayer). The song and book title: Blue Boat Home.

I’m so excited! Know that as you read this post, Loretta, my number one blog fan, will read it too. As she reads this, she will learn that this book is a gift from me to her. (Surprise, Loretta!) She loves children's books. This one we will treasure--and share with the grandkids. Each time I read it, I'll be inspired by the lyrics and probably will have the song in my head for the entire day.

I share this because Blue Boat Home lyrics have inspired and re-inspired me for over two decades. They still do. So here you go:

Blue Boat Home by Peter Mayer.

Though below me, I feel no motion

Standing on these mountains and plains

Far away from the rolling ocean

Still my dry land heart can say

I've been sailing all my life now

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the earth is my blue boat home

—

Sun, my sail, and moon my rudder

As I ply the starry sea

Leaning over the edge in wonder

Casting questions into the deep

Drifting here with my ship's companions

All we kindred pilgrim souls

Making our way by the lights of the heavens

In our beautiful blue boat home

—

I give thanks to the waves upholding me

Hail the great winds urging me on

Greet the infinite sea before me

Sing the sky my sailor's song

I was born upon the fathoms

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the earth is my blue boat home

My dear kindred pilgrim souls, we travel on this boat together. Hail the great winds urging us on! Let's do our very best to create and stand up for a future of love, joy and community.

Much Love,

P.S. If you'd like to experience the same delight with a copy of your own, here is the link* to purchase the book on Amazon.

The song Blue Boat Home is on Peter’s CD: Earth Town Square*.

*Disclosure: these are affiliate links, and I'll get a small referral fee if you purchase. However, I only share links to items that I wholeheartedly love and recommend.