Island Map from Steve's Sketchbook / Working Together to Live Together

Deserted Island

An island out in the ocean is the latest entry from Steve’s Sketchbook. Wouldn’t it be nice to be there with just a few people? But since we not, we should be working together.

Maps have always interested me. I have always enjoyed looking at them, seeing what was where, how things were related in a spatial sense, and so on. It is a little sad that there aren’t that many atlases being made these days, since everything is digital. However, that does make it even easier to see maps, as long as you have access to a phone, tablet, or computer.

Islands have also fascinated me, especially smaller islands. While it is fun to go somewhere like Nassau or Kauaʻi, a smaller island like Castaway Cay is even more interesting. No matter where you go on the island, the ocean is not too far away.

So when I was thinking about something to draw, I thought an island map would be fun. This is not any particular island, just a fun representation of one.

Because I like beaches, this island has lots and lots of beach area. It also has a mountainous area in the middle with lots of tropical foliage. I would imagine lots of interesting jungle birds like to live in all that green growth.

From this simple map, it is hard to get a sense of scale. But that harbor is more than large enough for a ship of some size to sail in and dock there. Maybe not one of the mega-size cruise ships of today, but perhaps a three-masted sailing ship of long ago.

It is fun to imagine a fanciful place like that sometimes. Give it a try if you can!

Working Together

Wouldn’t it be fun to live on an island like that? Not entirely by yourself, but with a few close family members and friends? I am thinking about something like the Swiss Family Robinson had in their movie. Of course, it would be better with electricity and fresh water, as long as we are dreaming.

However, that is not possible for most of us. There are a few of those very rich people who buy their own island to either live or vacation. But I don’t have that kind of money.

So instead, I am still living here with everyone else.

And for living here with everyone else to work well, it takes all of us working together. Right now there is a feeling that not everyone is willing to work together. Some are feeling left out, abused, hurt, neglected. Many are feeling pain and suffering.

The best way to change the world is to change yourself. Change the way you treat others. You cannot control how others treat you, but you can control how you treat others. By your actions, you can make a change. If you are truly living in that way, others will notice it. It will be contagious and spread. Others will feel your kindness and want to share that same kindness with those they are around.

This kind of treatment is an active change. It is not just not being unfriendly to someone, but it is making a recognizable effort to be kind to someone and to show them love. It is a way of acting, and not just a way of responding. It may take going out into the part of the world you are in and looking for ways to love others. You might even feel slightly uncomfortable at times. But you can make a difference.

No matter what differences we may have, whether it is skin color, economics, languages, or whatever else, we are all here together, living together, working together. Let’s do all we can to live closer together instead of farther apart.

Bible Verse

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:18