Learning to trust: the essentials are invisible

There’s a lot of work involved in boat maintenance that isn’t visible afterwards. First, the steel is derusted, then it’s vacuumed and cleaned, followed by treatment with boat floor oil, and finally a coat of primer is applied. Before each new coat is applied, the surface must be wiped thoroughly dry to ensure the next layer adheres properly.

Next (after wiping down again!), apply two coats of insulation. Then the battens for the panelling. Then the panelling. In the end, all you can see is the beautiful wood on the wall. No longer the many hours of work that went into making the ship safe and warm: the essentials are invisible to the eye.

Sometimes, after each new step, I forget what came before and have to consciously remind myself: ‘Oh yes, first there was the rust removal, then…’ I only see the most recent layer.
It’s also interesting that they call it „disguise“. Usually, you only talk about disguises at fancy dress parties.

To me, it’s a lovely metaphor for the inner workings of our lives… what lies beneath is ultimately invisible to the eye. And yet it is essential.

What is essential is invisible to the eye.