At Sea
There was a heartening news story recently about a man who was saved from the sea off the Dorset coast by quick thinking members of the public. He had got himself into trouble in the strong sea currents just off shore and was struggling to get back. The photograph of the chain of people reaching into the sea was very powerful. Ordinary people who had just come to the beach for a relaxing afternoon suddenly, together in their effort became life savers. If you have ever been in a similar situation you will know the sense of panic that can overtake you. It is a horrible feeling (it has happened to me). Your first reaction is to look to the shore for help. Maybe catch the attention of a trusted face who may help you. You weaken as you swim against the current. The panic intensifies as time goes on. In those moments of panic you re-evaluate what and who is important to you. After any life threatening event there is a sense of relief but also it takes a while to build up the trust and confidence to go out to sea again.
For many of us, this was a little like our experience of the Coronavirus. We have all been at sea. Certainly as we went into lockdown the shore felt along way away. Friends and strangers became our life lines, if not pulling us to shore at least stopping us completely floating away. We have been forced to re-evaluate what is important in life and to think of creative ways to care for one another. We are far from returning to normal but we are being pulled by the chain towards the shore. When we look to the shore what will we see? People we love? Strangers who helped when help was needed? A growing trust in God? There have been other images from our southern beaches over the last weeks. Families fleeing wars in far flung places arriving in boats, if they are lucky. When they look ashore what do they see? We can hardly imagine what terror and hopelessness would drive them to risk their children’s lives to get here. The temptation for us all is to return to normal but there was nothing normal about the world before Covid-19. If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that things can be different. Better to emerge from the surf imagining a different, kinder world. To remember birdsong, time with those we love and our hands clasped together to reach into the sea for those in peril.
Bob