In the Same Boat

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Helen Keller

This fall, we visited northwest Spain to walk a section of the pilgrim route called the Camino de Santiago. On the final day of the pilgrimage, we visited the picturesque fishing village of Fisterra. This quaint municipality is on Cape Finisterre, which is Latin for “Land’s End.” Fog and mist erased the sky overhead. A gray backdrop provided a stark contrast, allowing the sandstone buildings and brownish-red terracotta roof tiles to light up.

As we wandered near the harbor, my eyes were drawn to the many colorful boats moored at the dock. One boat immediately caught my eye. Secured to the back railing of this white sailboat was a large solar panel. These cells absorb sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity. During our travel, we learned that Spain depends primarily on solar and wind power to meet it’s energy needs.

Several examples of Spain’s energy conservation methods come to mind. Hotel room key cards are placed in a receptacle on the wall to turn lights on and off. Restroom lights in restaurants and museums are on timers… and you quickly learn not to linger!

Gazing at these boats, I felt encouraged by a shared commitment to find a way to bring our Earth back into balance. Every day, all over the world, people are taking action steps to mitigate climate change.

Our boats are different shapes and colors but we are all navigating on “our beautiful blue boat home.” Let’s set the sails and journey towards a hopeful future together.