“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – Jesus: John 14:27
Yes, for those of you who predicted Rebekah and I would love Ocracoke, you were so right!
Our original plan was to catch the drive-on-ferry, which runs every thirty minutes, but once we got our vehicle in the queue we were told we had more than a three-hour wait. So Rebekah pulled the car out of line while I ran over to the ticket office where I was able to secure seats for the passenger-only (and dogs and bikes) catamaran that left – serendipitously – within 15-minutes.
It was an interesting ride and the high-speed vessel deposited us in the town in a little less than one hour.
We spent the next seven hours wandering around the community. It really is a cool place. The highlights included:
- Lunch at a waterfront restaurant
- The British Cemetery
- A stroll down Howard Street
- Appreciating the work of local artists in several galleries
- The Ocracoke Lighthouse
- A number of interesting period homes
- The Ocracoke Preservation Museum
- An excellent relaxed diner at DAJIO
We found the community picturesque, hospitable, interesting and walkable. The “walkable” part was definitely helped by the gorgeous weather – sunny and breezy with a high of around 74-degrees.
We heard a moving story about the “British Cemetery.” In 1942 a British Naval Vessel, the Bedfordshire, was torpedoed off the Outer Banks and all hands were lost. Four bodies washed ashore on Ocracoke Island; they were buried here and the plot given to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Each May there is a memorial ceremony. This year, for the first time, a representative of the German government attended and offered powerful words about peace and sacrifice and accepting responsibility.
It was a good day, a reminder that in a world torn by anger and conflict (not just internationally and domestically but even in homes in the middle of families) there are not only islands of peace but hands that are willing to reach out across oceans too.
Our hearts and our actions – mine and Rebekah’s – are committed to peace in every context.
There on Ocracoke, even with clouds and concerns on many horizons, we simply enjoyed the gift – DEREK
