The sages illustrated repentance with a parable, and this one has sailed down the centuries.
A great ship was crossing the ocean on a long voyage. Before reaching port, a storm drove the vessel off course until the winds finally died near a pleasant-looking island. The captain dropped anchor. The island was covered in flowers, fruit trees, and shade. It looked like paradise. The passengers considered what to do — and divided into five groups.
The first group refused to leave the ship. "A fair wind may rise at any moment. The anchor may come up. The ship may sail without us. We will not risk missing our destination for a few hours of comfort." They stayed on deck. They arrived home with everything.
The second group went ashore briefly. They smelled the flowers, tasted a fruit, and returned quickly to their cabins. The wind rose; the ship sailed; their places were waiting for them. They were refreshed by the shore and had lost nothing by visiting.
The third group stayed longer. They lingered. When the wind rose and the captain called, they scrambled back in a panic — found their seats taken by others and had to settle for worse places in the hold. They made it home, but diminished.
The fourth group delayed until the ship was already moving. They had to swim for it, claw onto the side, and haul themselves aboard wet and bruised. They survived the crossing, but barely.
The fifth group was having too much pleasure to notice. They stayed on the island after the ship sailed, telling themselves they would catch the next one. There was no next one. The beasts of the island killed them one by one.
The island is this world. The ship is your life. Enjoy the fruit, but know which vessel you boarded — and which one is waiting to carry you home.