United Baptist Church of Ellsworth

Remember the Peaceniks, a term coined in the early 60’s for pacifists who by reasons of conscience actively opposed military interventions or war? Unfortunately, after centuries of philosophical, religious, and political convictions and protestations about the evils of war, achieving peace still requires courageous action and sacrifice. It will always be costly, tentative, and often elusive. Our nation knows all too well that attaining and preserving the ability to make choices and to be free from oppression have extracted a very dear price, the precious blood of patriots.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet…”

There he was, barely identifiable! I had heard a little splash, but it took a couple of minutes to spot his tiny face and bulging eyes in the murky, algae infested waters. He was hiding in plain sight.

Soon these freshly painted lobster buoys will be floating upon the ocean’s surface where their colors will mark the position of lobster traps lying on the bottom. Although these buoys cannot tell us what is happening underneath, their markings identify their owner and inspire a hopeful expectation for something good to surface.

These colorful, little dinghies may seem insignificant, but they play an important role for sailors and fishermen as they ferry their owners from dock to boat and back again. Much of the time they are just idly floating and waiting until they are needed. Their “insignificance” is a reminder that comparing ourselves to others and their accomplishments or ascribing degrees of importance to professional, social, and political positions may give us a sense that we are unsuccessful and undervalued even though we have significant roles in our personal and community relationships.