Message in a Bottle
The act of flinging a corked bottle containing a message into the jostling sea is a profoundly sacred act. Akin to prayer, this gesture of hope is similar the modern Jews’ practice of pressing carefully scribed requests into the Wailing Wall. With the anticipation that accompanies a seed pushed into loamy soil, one question lingers: Will someone answer?
Ask and it will be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. (Matt. 7:7 NIV)
When I was nine, my family and I were invited to spend Labor Day picnicking aboard our neighbor’s speedboat. While reading one of my girlhood novels, I’d been charmed by the idea of sending a note in a bottle. Filled with childlike optimism, I seized the opportunity to try it myself.
So I carefully wrapped a friendly note in plastic saran wrap. Then I slipped my message into an empty bottle of 7-Up. After squeezing a cork into the opening, I crumpled a wad of aluminum foil over the top. Finally, I wrapped the whole assembly with countless yards of cellophane tape. I tucked my emerald green treasure into our family’s canvas tote bag―alongside our tuna sandwiches, potato chips, and sunscreen... Read the rest of the story here.
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Many thanks to Bonnie at Macro Moments for jogging my memory of these events. Want to launch your own bottled message? Click here for cool and creative wedding and party invitations, baby announcements, and do-it-yourself kits. For some online fun, Oceangram offers a free electronic version.
Have you ever launched a message in a bottle? Do you know someone who has?Photo courtesy of Aero Works (Flickr)
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9 Comments:
What a great story, and with a "happy" ending!
This WAS a great story! No, I've never sent a message in a bottle, but I have tied a note to a helium balloon and launched it...but never got a response. Reading this made me smile because I can see the little girl in me (and you) wishful thinking that bottle to a new best friend. Precious analogy to Christ.
And it was FANTASTIC to learn more about YOU! I'll have to go back when I'm not tired to reread it all (and yes, I stuck with it til the end!) so I can retain more of it. You are WELL on your way to accomplishing your dreams, friend. There are many of "us" who so enjoy reading YOU!
Blessings!
What a great story!! And now I know that you grew up in my current town (well, city)!! Very cool.
I never did the message in the bottle thing...being from Victoria I always figured it would wind up in Vancouver, and us island girls wanted nothing to do with the mainland...then I moved here and realized how petty us island girls were back then! LOL.
no - but that is such an awesome story! i think it tells a lot about your parents - that they let you be the dreamy little girl you were and didn't quench that spirit! and then your mom even helped you find another pen pal! i strive to make every effort not to quench the dreamy child in my girls :)
I have never done this, but this was a very nice story. I have always loved the movie "Message in a Bottle" I always cry when I watch it. Your parents sound like wonderful people.
jennifer: Thanks!
rogin: Thanks again! I've never launched a note with a balloon... cool! Merci for your kind words.
mugwumpmom: Neat to know someone in blogdom who's living "back home." I never knew you island girls thought that way about Vancouver...LOL!
ame: Keep up that great parenting, Mom! Yes, I had pretty big dreams as a little girl... and PTL, most of them came true.
lori: I haven't seen "Message in a Bottle" but now I'm really curious. Thanks!
I will check it out - the electronic version I mean. I like to send messages to my hubby on a daily basis. Maybe that would be something fun to do. I think I have sent a message in a bottle when I was a little girl...
Thank you for sharing your great memory.
BTW I thought I had checked your blog on Sunday...you always 'sneak' a couple of posts in and I don't remember to check during the week. One day I will be commetning before you do - *grin*
Have a blessed evening...
PST - slow visiting tonight - PC's powersupply gave out - using the laptop from my hubby...takes for pages to load very slowwwwwww...
Oi - I just read "the rest of the story" about your message in the bottle. What a beautiful memory you share. It reminded me of my penpal from Alberta, Canada when I was a young gal growing up in Germany. Did it improve my English? Not really, but the stamps were cool...Thanks again for sharing.
eph2810: It's
wonderful that you e-mail your husband daily. We do the same around here... and we work at home together!
Thanks for being such a regular commenter (and responder). Computer glitches are a frustration, I know, I know. I just give those times over to God and pray, "Your will be done!"
Glad you enjoyed my complete story!
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