A Pristine Beach on Sand Hill Island
Our last full day on Prince Edward Island sounded promising. We had made
reservations in Alberton to take a boat tour to see the Blue Heron colony and to
visit Sand Hill Island. We couldn't have asked for better weather, and we made
sure to arrive 30 minutes early. We didn't want to run the risk of missing our
excursion!
The tour was provided through a local inn, but when I tried to pay the lady, she
refused. "Pay me afterwards," she said.
I was taken completely by surprise by her complete trust in total strangers, but
I put my wallet back in my pocket.
"I hope you don't mind," she added nonchalantly, "but the ride will be about
twenty minutes late."
We didn't mind. We were becoming used to the slow pace of life on the island. In
fact, it was one of the things that endeared us to this beautiful place! We made
our way to the dock and settled down on the grass to wait in the sunshine. I
took a welcomed nap. My wife didn't fare so well. She made three trips back to
the van to retrieve items that the boys had conveniently forgotten. I think she
was relieved when the pontoon boat finally arrived!
The boat driver was the owner of the inn, and he welcomed us warmly, as did
Clancy, his chocolate lab. When he went back to the office for a few minutes,
Clancy decided to stay with us. I guess he sensed that we hadn't seen our Golden
Retriever in three weeks, and we, especially my wife and boys, were feeling
"dog" lonely!
Clancy was an amazing dog. While his owner was at the office, he stole a pair of
his master's socks. We figured he would just chew on them, as our dog would have
done. Imagine our surprise when he swallowed it whole!
"He must be hungry!" observed one of the boys. "But who would want to eat a
dirty sock?"
On our way to the island, we had the opportunity to see plenty of beautiful
waterfowl. Besides the abundance of Blue Herons, we saw cormorants, black-backed
gulls, Bonaparte gulls, and hosts of others that we couldn't identify. Our guide
made us feel right at home. He told us about local business and attractions, and
when we arrived at the island, he asked us how long we would like to stay. We
decided on an hour, and when we crawled out of the boat, Clancy joined us! He
didn't seem to care at all that his master left. He had utmost faith that he
would return, and in the meantime, he could enjoy exploring this uninhabited
island with us!
A beautiful lighthouse stood on the island, but what intrigued us the most was
the pristine coastline. The water was warm to the touch, as was the sand. The
beach extended for miles around this Edenic atmosphere, and because so few
tourists ever came here, there was a crust on the top of the sand, making it a
lot easier to walk! We soon found ourselves walking barefoot, feeling very much
like we were reliving some of the moments that the Swiss Family Robinson must
have experienced!
Clancy stayed with us the entire way, obeying us as if we were his master. On
our way back, however, he suddenly ran out into the water and wouldn't return.
It took us awhile to see what he heard from afar: His master's boat! It was only
with difficulty that we were able to motivate him to stay with us until the
pontoon boat reached the beach.
Our return trip was interesting as well. The pilot took us through the harbor
and showed us the variety of fishing boats. He told us stories of his family,
stories of fishing, stories of life in Albertton, and generally made us feel
like we were important. As soon as we were out of the main channel, he even
handed over the wheel to my oldest son. Then, because his brother was turning
green with envy, he took us well past his dock so that my youngest son could
pilot the boat as well!
As I went to the office to pay, I couldn't help wondering just how much I might
be charged. Originally we had been quoted 25$ per person twelve and up; however
just that morning we had seen in a travel brochure that the price had increased
to 35$ per person. I was expecting to pay 105$, but instead of asking for my
money, I was greeted with: "How was the trip?"
"It couldn't have been any better!" I responded heartily.
We talked a bit longer, and then I finally pulled out my wallet.
"Your kids are under 12, right?"
"One is, the other is twelve years old."
"That will be 50$ plus tax."
50$ for an almost three hours ride, plus an hour on a beautiful beach! I
couldn't believe my ears. They had obviously remembered on the agreed price, AND
they hadn't wanted to charge for my 12 year-old son!
We were sad to leave this delightful place, and we promised ourselves that we
would return someday and spend an entire day on the island. Hopefully Clancy
won't mind being our guide again!
What made the trip so special? The beauty around us, certainly, but much more
than this, we were welcomed with open arms and treated like family. What a
difference this makes! Being treated like royalty makes anyone feel special. Why
don't we all try to treat others as if they were as important as ourselves? If
we did, conflict would be avoided, and we would be living like Jesus did.
Making a difference in someone's life not only makes THEIR day special, but it
makes YOURS special as well. Easterly hospitality can be practiced wherever you
are. Let Jesus be your guide, and you WILL make a difference in someone's life!
"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people
to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!" (Luke 6:31 The
Message)
"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (1 Cor 10:24 NIV)
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider
others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own
interests, but also to the interests of others." (Phil 2:3-4 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.