praise: on jumping

I found this in a journal from the month Paul and I were about to get married. It has been translated from French. For all who have thought of taking a risk. 

The boat is leaving for an adventure.

The crew is preparing.

Each member has a life jacket,

a rope, a raincoat.

One sailor doesn’t have everything he needs.

The others tell him

there will be enough to share. 

He doesn’t know if he can count on this,

thinks he needs to be able to cover up

in the cold, to swim if the boat overturns,

to provide for himself if he is lost;

after all, that is what he has been taught.

The others have more experience.

They have understood what they need.

Some of them have had everything

for a long time.

Others have just finished

to pack their bags.

Adventure runs through the sailor’s heart.

He wants so much to do, try, and discover.

He sets off to find a lifejacket, a rope,

and a rain coat.

Someone calls.

“The boat is leaving early!” says the voice,

“are you coming or not?”

He doesn’t know what to say.

The hour of departure approaches.

The store that sells life jackets is open.

He finds one. It fits him well.

He feels more prepared.

Then, he finds the rope

he was going to take is no longer

where it was. He still has no rain coat.

He doesn’t know what to do.

“We’re leaving!” cries the boat.

“But I have no rain coat!” he replies.

“And I can’t find my rope.

It will take time to find them.”

He doesn’t want to slow down the crew.

He doesn’t want to be cold.

He doesn’t want to find himself

in a situation that would be simple…

if only he had the right tool.

“Are you coming or staying?”

asks the crew,

“we’ll make do with what we have!”

He holds very still.

It is perhaps the last boat

for adventure this week, this year, this decade.

He could wait for them to return, 

he could wait for the next one, or- 

he’s doesn’t know.

Deep in his core, a tiny spark tells him

to trust – in the adventure, the boat, the crew.

He jumps, holding hope.

My love, do we know what we have

in our hands?