“Overcast sky”
I picked up my paintbrush and noticed that my bucket of paint was almost empty.
“My job’s about to be finished,” I thought to myself.
Suddenly, a gust of wind knocked over my bucket, splashing the remaining paint onto the deck.
“Another wasted effort,” I sighed as I started wiping the spilled paint.
Little did I know, someone saw what happened.
A few moments later, picked up the bucket and rushed to the paint storeroom, only to realize later that I had once again forgotten to switch off the ventilation fan.
Once again, someone saw.
I used to believe seafaring was never meant for me. But fate brought me here, in the middle of the sea.
My family back home thinks highly of me. They often say how lucky they are to have a seafarer who supports their everyday needs—food, school, electricity, and everything in between.
I became the family's breadwinner, and most of the time, the responsibility feels overwhelming.
I thought this day would just be among those long and tiring ones. But I was wrong. Today, someone saw everything—mistakes and all.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” a familiar voice said from behind me.
“Next time, clean the spilled paint properly, and never leave the ventilation fan running when you’re about to go to dinner.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied quietly.
“You know this wasn’t the first time, right?” he added.
“Yes, sir. It won’t happen again,” I answered nervously.
Embarrassed, I excused myself and went to rest.
Later that night, I was posted as bridge lookout. As I stared at the vast horizon, I couldn’t help but question myself.
Why do I always get the shorter end of the stick? Why do my classmates succeed faster than I do?
Am I being left behind? Am I not good enough?
I was too deep in thought when I heard a familiar voice again.
“Can you see any stars in the sky tonight?” he asked.
I looked up and gently answered, “Overcast sky, sir.”
There was no response at first. Confused, I glanced to my side and saw him standing beside me, also looking at the cloudy sky.
“Yes, it’s a very cloudy night. But that doesn’t mean the stars have stopped shining.”
He gently tapped my shoulder and continued, “I can see your eagerness — to learn, to adapt, and to reach success as quickly as you can.”
“But just like the stars, some shine brighter than the rest and are noticed first.”
“Your light may seem dim, but I noticed you,” he said and smiled at me.
Those words struck my heart.
“Am I not good enough, sir?” I mustered the courage to ask.
“No, you’re more than good enough. You have your own light, just like the stars tonight. It just so happens that we don’t always have a clear sky.”
I felt relieved, and warmth slowly grew inside my heart.
For several days, I had been pitying myself for not being as successful as my peers.
I was too focused on the things I lack that I failed to realize that growth does not always happen under a bright sky.
Sometimes, it takes clouds for us to appreciate the light.
Maybe I simply forgot that behind every dark cloud, the heavens are still smiling down on me.
This story reminds us that leadership is not only about correcting mistakes, but also about recognizing quiet effort. A few thoughtful words can clear someone’s cloudy thoughts and help them see their own potential again.
Look out for the final story in this series in the next Bow News!