Let our better ‘ships’ rise with us

Let our better ‘ships’ rise with us

Commentary by Gen Heywood | FāVS News

An anthem needed for our time, comes from Stan Rogers’ 1979 folk song “The Mary Ellen Carter.” The story concerns a great ship sunk because of a drunk and careless captain. Her wealthy owners got the insurance money and were satisfied.

She was forfeited.

Her crew who had been protected by her, knew her real value. They worked hard, faced the dangers and restored the ship.

The Mary Ellen Carter never existed, yet she exists in the truths of her story.

Reckless leaders and greedy corporations let carelessness and greed sink great ships. Those ships include citizen-ships, friend-ships, bipartisan-ships, statesman-ships and others. We who have traveled on these ships must bring them up from their graves, restore and reestablish their service.

The current greedy have carefully renovated old ships that hurt and destroy communities. These include partisan-ship, dictator-ship, brinksman-ship and similar. However, the greater ships, seen as unprofitable, are still superior vessels. Working together, these great abandoned ships can rise again. 

In the word’s of Stan Rogers’ song:

And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow

With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go

Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain

And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

Rise again, rise again!

Though your heart it be broken and life about to end.

No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend

Then like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. FāVS News values diverse perspectives and thoughtful analysis on matters of faith and spirituality.