Yesterday I saw 5 eggplants floating on Lake Michigan’s shoreline north of Chicago. As I watched them ride the current I thought how peculiar. Where had they come from? How far had they traveled? Where will they end up? Eventually, two traveled north and disappeared out of sight. Three floated on another current and surprised people on an adjacent beach. The event reminded me of life.
Lake Michigan is the world and we are the eggplants. We are taken on individual journeys and in different directions by unknown currents or circumstances that we may or may not have chosen consciously. Sometimes we travel together to keep each other company and give support, and sometimes we go it alone. We may float aimlessly or land on firm ground bringing a surprise of joy and pleasure to others. Either way, we touch people’s lives in ways we can’t even imagine.
If we land we might be of use to someone else – feeding their lives. If we drift aimlessly we may wither and die and all evidence of our existence sinks away.
Eggplants on Lake Michigan – what a fun, surprising gift that sparks our imagination, fuels our curiosity and leaves fond memories behind to share.