Our island truly is a remarkable place to experience, and there are many people who fall in love with the island within hours of first stepping foot here. Undoubtedly, the romance of taking a boat to get here sets the tone, but once on dry land, there is a peace and beauty about this place that surrounds you. The centuries-old majestic live oaks, draped with Spanish moss capture your attention. The bumpy dirt roads ensure that you don’t go too fast to appreciate the natural surroundings. The wildlife (of the four-legged kind) roam about and are visible almost every time of day. And our two-legged wild life is an eclectic mix who are united by a shared love of this unique place.
There’s enough outward and obvious beauty for nearly everyone to appreciate Daufuskie. It doesn’t take much to be awed by a sunrise over a deserted beach or a sunset across the vast expanse of marsh. Who can’t enjoy the sight of dolphins frolicking in the river? The historic structures that dot the island, some well-maintained and some falling into disrepair, add their own beauty to the island. For someone who simply takes in these experiences, it can be the beginning of a long love affair with Daufuskie.
Yet there’s a much deeper level to Daufuskie, one that takes time to experience. This happens when someone is willing to go beyond the superficial and really learn about our island. To learn that we don’t just have oak trees, but that we have live oaks, laurel oaks, red oaks, and water oaks (and others). To learn about why we have so many dolphin, and what that has to do with the visibility of our water. To spend time watching the red tail hawk hunting prey in the forest, or the osprey diving for fish. Then there is also the history – some good, plenty that isn’t – that has shaped this place over the last multiple centuries. Going deeper exposes a richness to the island that otherwise goes unseen.
The challenge to experiencing this depth is that it takes effort. There is no test handed out to visitors or residents quizzing them about their knowledge of the island, nor is there any required reading. Various groups on the island, such as the Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation and the Daufuskie Island Conservancy try to make some of this information easily available, but as the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. For those who decide not to drink, it is their loss, because the richness revealed by this information allows someone to not simply see the beauty around us, but to appreciate it deeply.
Life is like that. There’s plenty to appreciate on a superficial level, but when we are willing to invest our own time and energy into learning about someone, something, or someplace, our appreciation grows to a point where our own lives can be changed. This is the basis of lasting, transforming relationships, but it only happens when we are willing to work at it. Many will simply opt not to put in the effort, and their lives will be the poorer for it. Don’t let that be you. I want to encourage you to go the extra steps, and pursue the depths of what you find around you, whether it is a personal relationship, your surroundings, or even your faith life. Learn the details, learn the history, and experience the richness of life that is available to you.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron