The Captain

Out he came

Slowly

Confidently

Patiently

To his men huddle around the center mast

He looked in their eyes

And saw the slightest bit of uncertainty

He saw a little bit of fear

Some worry

Some doubt

The captain walked around his men

And stepped up onto a barrel

And began to speak

A speech

His men would never forget

…

I see it in your eyes men

You’re not sure

You’re not sure of this

Men, I know we’ve just begun

You’ve left it all behind

Just as I have

And I was the one

Who fired that last arrow

When I asked you days ago to join me

You made a vow when you stepped across that line

That you were willing

That you were able

That you were ready

And now…

Just days out

I can see that flicker of burden in your eyes

I see you look back during the night

Seeing the glimmer of the flames in the dark sky

I see you do this

I see it clearly

You can’t escape my glance

I’m aware of your nervousness

I see that you wonder

What may happen?

What the future may bring?

What perils we may face?

What challenges lay ahead?

But there’s no turning back men

There’s nothing to go back to

It’s all gone

What once was

Is now turning to ashes

What once was

Is in flames or embers by now

There is only scorched earth

Where your memories seem to drift

There is nothing

There for you anymore

…

A young man with a terrified look on his face interrupted and said…

“But sir, what about everything that just…”

…

The captain cut him off immediately

And belted out at the top of his lungs

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

THERE IS NO GOING BACK! THERE ARE NO OLD WAYS!

THERE IS ONLY THIS!!!

THERE IS ONLY WHAT IS TO BE FOUND!!! THERE IS ONLY WHAT IS TO BE DISCOVERED!

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

NO OLD WAYS!!!!!

and men…

this is it

…

They didn’t cower…the men on board

In fact

They knew

They were being guided

Into the land of the unknown

By a captain

Who had no fear in his heart

That was living as if he was already dead

That wasn’t afraid to give up everything

To sacrifice everything

To let go…of everything

To see something for himself

And for others

That was far greater than anything he had ever lived in before

His men

Knew deep in their hearts

In that moment

That whatever came

The perils

The beasts

The darkness

That their captain

Would guide them

Protect them

Shine for them

And despite anything

That would ever happen

They knew

He would carry on

– Evan Sanders