On this day in 1947 Thor Heyerdahl set sail in a raft from South America using ocean drift to try to reach Tahiti. He wanted to prove that the Pacific Islands could have been colonized by people from South America. While his journey caught the public imagination, it took away somewhat from the navigational knowledge and skills of Polynesian peoples. Centuries before Columbus sailed for the new world, they had reached various South Pacific Islands spread over a vast area. They used the stars and their knowledge of ocean swells to intentionally navigate their way rather than just drifting with the currents.
Loving God,
we give thanks for the knowledge and skills of ancient peoples of our world who did extraordinary things like building the pyramids in Egypt or Newgrange in Ireland or navigating vast oceans.
May we learn from their wisdom and their ability to ready the natural world.
May this knowledge help us to live in harmony with nature.
Amen
By Fr Pat O'Shea - Lower Hutt
Shop
Comments (0)