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Challenges of Discovery

Hail Brave Hearts

The never ending adventure to voyage and discovery to meet and greet the new people, to learn their ways.  Peace among us is a priority, gifts and exchange, routes of travel and a path to the new world.  Discover, trade and progress, learn the language, the customs, the society.  There are many peoples, many societies, many worlds to discover.  Come with this explorer into the heart of our land and meet the people, listen to their stories, share their passions, learn their wisdom.  This is New France, in 1615, with an exploration into the aboriginal territories of Ontario, as far as Georgian Bay and Lake Nippissing, in search of a route to the Orient.

The Orient.  That spell binding, alluring destination of dreams.  Silk, spices, riches.  The Orient!  Find the route through Canada, we know it’s there.  Yes, it is, but not this time.  Not in 1615, when the world was forested and filled with mighty, turbulent rivers, with rapids and waterfalls to portage.  Not in 1615 when every few hundred kilometers brought new nations of aboriginals to meet and negotiate with.  As skilled and brilliant as these explorers were, the land is too large, the peoples too many, the dangers too difficult and the demands too great.  Still, the path to the Orient exists, but the people need to know these explorers, before extending such a substantial gift as the whereabouts of this sought after trail.

Samuel de Champlain 1604-1616

Travel and travel and travel, is a must.  Explore the world around and before you.  Go to these uncharted lands.  Bring peace, negotiation and prosperity with you, if you can.  It’s a daunting mission, to be the explorer, to discover and collaborate with people of unknown character.  Meeting them in their own land, on their own terms.  Peace and skilled negotiation.  The intellect soars as the negotiations are successful and the peoples minds are set at ease, with this friend.  Gratitude for such necessary gifts, as some burdens are lifted and some work is eased.  Sharing and caring, the beginning of a new world.  The start of a new land.  This is now New France, being explored and documented and carefully mapped.  Each river that is traveled, each new tribe that is encountered, each new language that is spoken and the forest of trees, plants and animals to marvel at as well.  All carefully described, by this well educated person, who knew the land so well.

This is the life of a great explorer, Samuel de Champlain.  His mission of discovery was so successful that it formed peaceful and prosperous relations with several aboriginal tribes and the French people, who earnestly sought common bonds and  well intended relationships with the people of the new world.  The needs for these negotiations for the fur traders were high.  In the end Champlain died in Quebec city with only 150 settlers living in the colony.

With the explorer, came the missionaries.  Jesuit priests from France, intent on bringing Christianity to the people of Canada.  This seemed necessary for the aboriginals to understand the religion of the French people  so that they would have a common bond in humanity to share.  Peace among the people, brothers in Christ.  Although the aboriginals had their own religion, with their own after life, it was deemed essential to bring these people to Jesus.  Such was the quest of the Jesuits who pursued this mission to the ends of their lives.

Carhagouha – 1615 site of first Mass in Ontario

written by Dr. Louise Hayes

February 28, 2020

To The Sailors
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To The Sailors

Hail Bravehearts

The adventure begins! Of boats and strings and sails and things, the mighty oceans call us. Venture, my friends into the wild Atlantic! Cast your fears aside and unfurl your spirit, the sails rise high and the wind is blowing. A day for adventure on the high seas, as the wind takes you out to sea. To the high seas, of ocean faring in a sturdy craft of wood and sail. The crew of stalwart sailors, unleash the sails and the mighty wind propels them onward. Onward to the journey, to the adventure, to the marketplace, to the catch of the day.
An occupation as a sailor in search of the newest land of plenty, the newest riches, the newest gold. Will it be jewels, artifacts, gold or silver? What will you discover, mighty sailor, in the new land? What new trade will you bring us?
Feed us, oh sailors, for we starve and die of hunger. Bring gifts of food and make it plenty.
Oh fine sailors, bring us gold, for we are fat and our stomachs overfull. Dollars and cents is what we live for. Just tell us how much wealth so we can profit more.
Hail, almighty sailors, as you cast yourselves off to the wind. God speed to you and bless your daring souls. You, the wanderers, the explorers, the adventurers, the daring, the brave, save us! For as some lay dying of hunger and poverty, the others drink in vast amounts of wealth. Save us, oh sailors, save us all.
A food source for the poor, a gold mine for the rich.
As the sailors cast off, the crowd at the docks, wave goodbye and pray for the mortal souls of these bravehearts. So much depends on their success. Greed for some, survival for others, but prayers and praises still.
The route to the new world has been explored already, so the ships captain navigates well. High rolling waves and turbulent ocean, storms and calm, all mastered by the knowledge of this almighty human. Skills, human. Skills. For the brave captain has learned his lessons well and thousands of kilometers of endless water, no landmarks in site, won’t ruffle the unbeatable education of this sea worthy man. He knows it all. How to set his sails, how to set his compass, how to set his mind. This almighty human will save them. The route to the new world and the conquest of the new land is upon us.

http://www.sailorsforthesea.org

Hail to the mighty sailor and to his precious cargo. What fortunes lie beneath the hold? Is it the wealth that we dream of? Do we have markets to explore? Is there plunder for the greedy and scraps for the poor? Oh,great sailor, who opens our minds to discovery, you are champions. The far off places, the adventure, the awesome and brilliant places. You, great sailor are the heroes of the day. Praises to your strength, your courage, that we may all live in ease and prosperity. Good fortune lights your way.

written by Dr. Louise Hayes
October 24, 2014