fullness of the sea

It’s easy to be filled when you are empty. Void longs to be satisfied. If you are already filled with the treasures of the world, you’ll stop searching for clarity. It’s foolish to be stuffed to the brim with things that don’t matter.

John’s emptiness tortured him for years—it was his ultimate resentment. He never understood why he could always be hungry, how work was always hard to find, and how friends counted few when your pockets were hollow. To hope would be to disappoint himself—there hadn’t been any opportunities on his horizon for many years.

But on a late summer evening, all felt normal in the incorrigible sea town John roamed except for the scurrying story about the mysterious opportunity spread by a group of sailors. The townspeople showed much enthusiasm toward the cryptic voyage. Depending on who you talked to, it was either scandalous, dangerous, hilarious, or ridiculous. To the sailors, it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

John wandered through the marketplace and found himself near the fruit seller. He glanced at the bountiful cartons of apples and pears and examined the marketplace floor for any rotten rejects. Any food was food for a beggar. A rough-looking patron leaned against the seller’s stand, eating an apple while the seller tidied his collection.

“Did you hear about the men sailing off? They said they had an opportunity of a lifetime. ‘Everlasting treasure for all who join them.’ What does it even mean? Who in the world would follow a group of lowly sailors into the sea’s abyss with such an offer? Did you see their ship? A ship—hardly… tied together like a measly bundle of kindling. The only hope they have of finding treasure is when they are at the bottom of the sea. Ha! They said they guaranteed treasure but they could not guarantee an easy ride. What sort of advertisement is that? And to sum it all up, they said there would be stipulations for boarding—like some sort of payment. Ha! Ha! Who in their right mind would give up just one of their coins to follow a group of poor imbeciles? Hilarious!” The fruit seller nodded in agreement and went on rearranging his products.

“I did hear about it, yes. I really don’t understand it at all, but if someone decides to go, who is to stop them?” the fruit seller made his way around his stand and the man eating the apple turned to face him.

“Is it possible that a person exists in this city with so little to lose that they would board that shoddy contraption? Is anyone really that oblivious to a scam? The world promises us nothing. It owes us nothing. Whatever treasure they have beyond the horizon is really beyond me. Someone should alert the authorities,” the core of the apple was dwindling down but the man continued to gnaw at it.

Neither man noticed the dirty beggar boy lurking a few feet away, eyeing the apples and moving closer as the conversation intensified.

John approached the stand, looking at the apples intently and waiting for his moment. Each Tuesday around noon, the supreme judge walked through the town square in his caravan. Shoppers gawked as they passed through. John took these moments to gather his bounty. While everyone looked at the convoy of wealth, he stole his food for the day. The fruit seller and apple eater looked on towards the caravan as it approached, continuing their conversation.

“Every Tuesday they arrive, and all revel in their splendor. Are we not bored by their wealth at this point? We all know it’s to show off. Must be nice to be rich from the taxes paid by the penniless,” the man said, throwing his apple into an empty barrel.

“That may be true, but if they buy some apples today, I’ll forget their vanity just this once,” the fruit seller laughed.

As all attention was on the caravan, John snatched two apples from the crate and slowly began to walk away. But across the path, a wine seller witnessed the theft and betrayed him.

“David! Your apples. He took them!” The fruit seller turned to see the dirty scoundrel running away. He hurtled over his stand and chased the boy through the marketplace. John raced his scrawny legs through the twists and turns, bumping into people and jumping over flour sacks and garbage. He ran fast—too fast for the seller. The fruit seller stopped his pursuit in a panting fit, “You better run, boy! If I see your face in the marketplace again, you'll be sorry!”

John found an empty alleyway and ducked behind a pile of crates, gobbling his apples as fast as he could to hide the evidence. But two apples hardly cured days of starvation. Empty stomach. Empty heart. He thought he’d head to the coast, it would be the last place the fruit seller would be—as the mysterious sailors were about to set off.

He was surprised to find a fairly large group of spectators on the shore. He observed several men tying down rickety boards that made up the makeshift boat. The man with the apple was right; it was hardly a ship. It could hardly fit ten men, let alone whatever treasure they had in mind.

The sailors stopped prepping and moved toward the crowd, smiling and welcoming all who ventured to see them.

One of the seafarers stepped forward. He was hardly dressed as a respected sailor; his clothes were almost as dirty as John’s, but his smile made up for his drab.

“Greetings to you all! My name is Marcus. I expect you are all here to inquire about our journey ahead. As you have heard, we are going on a journey to find everlasting treasure. But please do not mistake us. Our treasure is not what you think. It’s not something you can store; it’s not something that can buy you tangible things; it’s something more than that. It can buy you freedom and love,” he held his hands up as if signifying the impact of his plea.

The crowd whispered among each other in confusion. A woman in the front spoke up, “We heard that you had to pay to board. How much?”

“Well, the compensation is different for every person. None of us are the same, why should we pay the same?” A confused snarl appeared on many a face. “What are you getting at? Stop talking in circles and get to the point!” a man hollered from the back.

“Anyone earnestly considering this trip, please come forward and we will explain compensation,” the sailors watched the crowd for movement.

A man approached the boat from the back of the crowd. “My name is Simian. I am a singer and an artist.”

Marcus approached and shook his hand. “Simian, nice to meet you. I’m sure your voice and artistry are much applauded in this town. Let’s say that to enter the boat, your songs and artistry must remain pure.”

Simian stepped back, adequately offended. “Sir, I am not sure what you are referring to, but I believe that my songs and paintings are always of good nature.”

“Ah, friend. I am sorry, it is my mistake then. However, that is easy payment, yes? If you already remain pure and plan to continue that way, it’s quite simple, eh?”

Simian looked intently into Marcus’ eyes and realized that all the crowd’s eyes were on him. He thought back to all of the money he received from singing at brothels and carousing there. No purity in that. His work at those establishments accounted for most of his finances.

“Ah… yes. You’re right. Quite simple. But who is to say I’d be comfortable sailing into the unknown? Where is this boat going to?” Simian tried to change the subject matter.

“Our journey will be long and we don’t have it all planned out yet, but we are visiting the next island we touch. I promise you’ll be well looked after. My friends and I are always in good hands.”

Simian nodded but stepped back to the crowd, unsure. He ushered the next potential candidate.

A woman stepped forward and kindly asked, “My name is Maria. Are women allowed on the boat?”

“Ah, yes. You would be the only woman right now, but there are more to come. We need brave women like you. I promise you would be safe. But as for your compensation, you would not be allowed to bring more than one piece from your wardrobe. As you can see, we do not have room for large bags on our boat. And all of us men travel light. Would you be able to give up all of your belongings and take to the sea with us?” he asked.

Maria thought back to all of the beautiful dresses she stored in her wardrobe. Fine linens of many colors, embroidered and fashionable. Her clothes gave her status, and she enjoyed the power. She couldn’t imagine giving them up.

“I… I would need to think about that. There are some things that ladies need to live adequately, you know,” Maria argued.

“Well of course! But we believe all things will be provided for us on our journey. Everything we could ever need. What do you say? Be our first woman to board?” Marcus waited for her reaction.

“I need to think about it more,” she said and stepped back into the crowd.

No others stepped forward for a few minutes and the crowd began to dwindle. John lingered, watching the sailors make final preparations.

He felt the heat in the sand between his toes and thought of the coolness of the sea water. He walked toward the sailors and held his hand to greet Marcus.

“My name is John. I have nothing to offer you. I have no talents and I own nothing but what I’m wearing. I don’t quite understand all this, but sir, I’m in such a dire need of another life. Is there a place for me where you are going?” John looked into the joyful eyes of the sailor.

“John, I’m so glad you’ve come. You are welcome to join our crew. It is better to have little, John. For then you can be filled with much more. We’re going on an adventure. And I’ll tell you the truth, it won’t be easy all the time, but by choosing this path, we find truth and purpose in the struggle. Treasure awaits us if we are humble and kind. And as for your compensation, I see you don’t have much to offer, but I’ll ask this: if you come aboard, you must never steal food in the cities we visit. Is that clear?”

John’s eyes grew wide as he realized his folly exposed. How could he possibly have known? Strangely, John trusted this man, his welcoming crew and their loving spirit.

John nodded and hopped aboard, helping the crew with their last tasks before setting sail. Marcus looked on shore to see if anyone else felt drawn to the boat, but the crowd was gone. He could barely make out the figures of the Simian and Maria, walking back toward their homes. They pushed off the shore and moved toward the sea.

The sea was hardly a void—a mix of raging and calm waters with so much life in its midst. John felt the breeze in his hair as they moved off into the horizon.

Marcus gazed at the skyline, “John, you will never be empty again after today. There is fullness of joy ahead. Let us bask in the light that is to come and all the good there is in giving up everything you have to gain freedom from everything that ties you down.”