First Years in Canada

by Milos Anthony Navratil

The following is a beautiful essay written by Milos, a relative who as a teenager hatched a secret plan to escape to Canada from behind the Iron Curtain by stowaway aboard a Cuban passenger aircraft bound for Havana with stopovers in Ireland and Canada.

When I was alone I wondered if I lived well or not. I felt that if I could live well, God would keep taking care of me.

One day I walked where cargo ships from different parts of the world were tied up. I wondered if there is any place in the world one could escape to where adults don’t make themselves miserable with their ideas and do not try to make kids be like themselves.

Outwardly I seemed to be doing the right things and well. But inwardly something has changed inside of me that year. It felt as if something was dying and the ability to experience life as precious, beautiful and amazing was fading.

…I saw a place, as if somewhere far among the stars, that was without light or warmth where I would find myself if I ended my earthly journey… As I restored my thoughts and words towards God, I felt restoration of His light and life within me. I was surprised to find that God was not far away but near…

…Now it seemed like life was a gift, that all things of value were gifts: our pleasant Earth where one could sit by a campfire on a lakeshore and watch the stars, the beauty of nature, the colors of the sky, the kind people I met. It seemed to be made for happy adventures and discoveries and to tell me about the loving kindness of our Creator.

special thanks to our family historian, Laurel who kept in contact with Milos over the years and published his story for the entire family.