大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Revd Virginia Luckett

Good morning.

Every Friday morning at around 8:30, stormy weather and sewage alerts permitting, you鈥檒l find me on the beach with my two friends, preparing to swim.

I can't say I'm an experienced cold water swimmer but I've been swimming regularly since the end of March this year and I've made a pact with my fellow swim sisters to swim throughout this winter. Even if it means just going in for a few moments.

I started swimming to accompany my friend who had tragically lost a close family member she used to swim with. I took the funeral; and wanted to keep in touch, so swimming together seemed like the natural thing to do.

That first day in March was memorable. It was cold and choppy. As I stepped into the waves, the stones from the beach pounded my ankles. The shock of the iciness of the water hit me. I felt a surge of adrenaline. As I left the water 60 seconds later, I was fully alive and instantly hooked.

Now, as I wade in, I am more familiar with the creeping numbness of cold water swimming. As winter approaches I know that every moment we stay in may be a moment too long and leave us shivering when we get out. So we plan to stay safe.

Yet I find, the more I swim, I notice that the intensity of the experience in some mysterious way mirrors the shock felt by my friend in her loss, which strangely, helps.

So today in this season of Remembrance I pray for all those around the world who live with the same shock, that in the depths of their trauma, there will be a glimmer of hope.

Amen

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