At Sea

A captain, Jack, was to take a cargo ship from his hometown port to another where it was to pick up cargo and sail further under supervision of another captain. Upon request he was granted special permission to take his son along with him. Christopher, was home on holiday, he was training to be a captain. They packed up, got ready and set sail at night.

Early next morning Jack was in the bridge of the ship. He was checking the bearing and other critical parameters. He heard a knock on the door. "Can I come in dad?" asked Christopher. "Sure son, come on in", said Jack. Christopher walked in towards his dad. "Mornin dad! Would you like to have some coffee?" asked Christopher. "Sure son, that would be nice", replied Jack. Christopher walked out and returned in a while with two cups of steaming hot coffee. "Thanks Chris", said Jack as he continued to work.

Chris took his coffee mug and walked towards the window. "Beautiful day isn't it dad", he said staring at the beautiful blue sea. Jack left his work and with his coffee mug in his hand, walked up to his son. Standing beside his son he looked outside and replied, "a beautiful day indeed!". There was silence for a couple of minutes. "What's the matter son, you seem pensive?" asked Jack. "Well as a matter of fact I am, how did you know?" asked Chris. "I raised you son, I know when my son's ok and when he's not!" replied Jack.

"Well dad, over the years, in family, school, college, our neighbourhood and now in training I have made some friends, some remain while some are lost. I have always given my all to every friendship and relationship, but often I have not had the same reciprocated", he said. He stopped and sipped his coffee, looked at the sea, then at his dad and continued. "Why is it that way dad? It leaves me disappointed when I don't get back from people what I give. When I give so much, why don't I get it back? I have been honest, dedicated and earnest, yet have been taken for granted by those I have loved most", he said with a sad look on his face.

"Come outside, let's go out on the deck and talk", said Jack. Jack grabbed his binoculars as they made their way out. "Bright and sunny!" said Jack. Then he took his binoculars and looked at something far away. "What are you looking at dad?" enquired Chris. "Well check it out, I was wondering if we could bring our ship into that port", said Jack and handed over the binoculars to his son. Chris looked through the binoculars and started laughing. "Come on dad you got to be kidding. That's a really small dock, it can't handle a big ship as ours. I'm a sailor too, but even a lay man could say you can't bring this big ship into a little dock like that", replied Chris.

"Well, when you have been doing it in real life why can't we try here?" asked Jack. "What do you mean?" asked a confused Chris. "Let me explain. Your heart, son, is as big as this ship, which is why you are so dedicated to every friend or relative. But your mistake is that you have expectations, big expectations  from others who are not capable of delivering the same. Like that dock, their hearts are just not big enough to reciprocate what you give. Sure you can't moor this big ship into a small dock like that. So stop trying. Give it your best but don't expect the same in return. Don't blame them either, because most of the times it's not that they aren't giving their best, they are giving the best as per their potential but it's not enough because your expectations are greater", explained Jack.

"I think I get it. But with a heart so big am I always going to be disappointed then?" asked Chris. "Well now don't overestimate yourself son. You know the port where we will be mooring this ship is huge, it's capable of handling several ships of this size at a time. You must understand that we all are different, we all have different capabilities and we all have different potential. Sure you feel someone has not done enough and someone else feels the same about you. So do your best, give every friendship or relationship your best, but don't expect the same in return. Sometimes you get less, don't be disappointed, remember, some docks are just not big enough to handle big ships. Sometimes you'll get more, just be thankful, because you know some ports are way bigger than your ship", said Jack.

"Take the binoculars and look over there", said Jack pointing in a direction towards the dock. "Oh that's a shipwreck!" replied Chris still looking through the binoculars. "So there's another lesson there. Once you know a dock is too small or the sea too shallow, don't risk taking your ship there. It's going to end up as a wreck for sure. If the dock's too small keep sailing, move on and search for a bigger port that can accommodate you. Surely you will find one sooner rather than later", said Jack. "Thanks dad I feel so much better now. Just give my best, have no expectations and treat each person on his/her merit without comparison is what I have learnt", replied Chris with a smile on his face. "That's good. Now come on in, while I have you on board let me teach you some practical lessons about captaining a huge vessel like this one", said Jack with a pat on Chris's shoulder. The two of them walked back into the bridge and shut the door behind them.