And begin, he did! With Sebastian’s help, they started to build Jack’s dream vessel. With every measured line and each unplanned flourish, he knew that he was nearer the adventures he had always hoped for.
04.05.2021
“Wow, that kid is going to be an engineer.”—Words that were never spoken of me. I do hear it said a lot, though, of others these days. At school and among family and friends, as we all peer into the lives of the children around us, guessing at and wondering how they will grow and how their minds will transition from natural tendencies and interests to application in work and impact on the world around them. I don’t think I ever heard anyone say, “Wow, he’s NOT going to be an engineer”, either. My only memory of enjoying Legos from childhood is when my brothers and I had created barricades out of our mattresses and used a bucket of them as projectiles in a battle in our shared bedroom. I have another memory of gathering random wires, springs, and rubber bands from drawers around the house and arranging them into some kind of oriented mass that, although it looked wonderfully complex, did nothing at all in the way of function. I often enjoy the idea of the complexity of a machine. I am glad when they do the job they are supposed to do, but my curiosity starts to wane if I get too close to their inner workings. By contrast, I pay perhaps too much attention to what goes on with the thoughts and emotions of people. I am fascinated by the interior life of humans and am thankful when I get to take part in the healing process or the encouraging of someone.
This illustration shows my weighted focus on Jack’s inner dreams being expressed externally through a collection of lumber and a few tools. It feels like I am back at the drawers, pulling out rubber bands to wrap around paper clips. Whether I’m an engineer or not, I’m having a blast.
Jack’s fascination and longing for a sailing experience was inspired by a good friend of mine who feels the same passion. Growing up in El Paso, TX, and the desert environment surrounding the city, he once shared with me the sense of wonder that he has for bodies of water and the adventures to be had on them. My friend has spoken to me more about boats than any other person I have known and always with a sense of mystery, romance, and childlike perspective.
