From the Shore at Tankerton
Sitting
by the shore on a gentle day, idly
watching the waves meet their nemesis, can be a surprisingly beneficial therapy.
We all know that the sea has its moods, just like ourselves. In its extremes it
can be menacing and destructive as well as gentle and soothing. A reminder to
us that we all live within a reality that is experienced more as an
ever-changing flux, than a predictable programme.
But, observing gentle waves breaking on the shore can speak to us of the
friendly and peaceful flow of Divine presence, a presence that transcends all
situations and all contingent forces. A presence that is never passive, never
stationary, but always active, challenging us, changing us, bathing us,
cleansing us, shaping us, nurturing us , healing us and, above all, enveloping
us in the flow of God’s love. A flow that is present even when, like the
Prodigal Son of the parable, we stray from the warmth and security of the
Father’s household.
Paradoxically,
the persistent rhythm of breaking waves exhibits the senses of both constancy and change. The regular frequency of the
arrival of waves is punctuated by sudden change as the bed of the shore rises to cause the wave to collapse , break
and dissipate. Perhaps a metaphor for
the constant flow of God’s love faithfully arriving and spreading on the shore
of our individual and varied lives?
Those of us
who can no longer escape the description of ‘old’ can perhaps also discern here a parable about our life’s ultimate
destiny. When we watch waves arriving on the shore we are witnessing the end of
a very long journey, across the vastness of the ocean. The breaking of a wave on
the shore truly is its final destination, its energy not lost but released ,
set free, dissipated, shared, absorbed. Faith has taught us that our journey in
life will likewise come into ultimate fruition as we reach the shore of fulness
of time, in eternity, our very ‘being’ surrendering into the safe beach of God’s
heart and love.
However, for those of younger years , perhaps the waves can speak with a
different voice. The sea is vast, the way forward seems clear, stretching into
the far distance, a horizon always beckoning, the journey exhilarating, a
future anticipated and planned with confidence
in the freedom of forward
movement . Yes, obstacles will be encountered from time to
time, but the beauty of waves lies in their ability to bend round corners, to get
past obstacles. Worth reminding
ourselves that none of us can avoid unexpected impediment in life, a narrowing
of options, but God’s love and our responsive faith ensures a continued forward
movement within Divine will and purpose. Each impediment is the alpha point of
a new centre of outward movement. For each of us, whether old or young, the
journey ahead is always in companionship
with Christ, and that which is past, both the commendable and the regretful, is
already in the accepting embrace of a loving God and Redeemer.
Sea, river,
lake and water itself are mentioned over a hundred of times in the Bible, in a
variety of literal, metaphorical and parabolic senses. They were, and still
are, used symbolically to highlight deeply spiritual emotions and actions such
as cleansing, healing, baptism, Spirit empowerment, hospitality and servanthood.
More darkly, in ancient times , the sea came to represent the vastness of the
unknown, turbulence and danger. The unfathomable depths of the sea have been
used to speak of anguish, and the Psalmist uses the metaphor of deep water to
describe the hard place of spiritual confusion and helplessness:-
Save
me, O God,
for the waters have come up to
my neck. I sink in the
miry depths,
where there is no foothold… (Psalm 69 v 1-2)
But the Irish Celtic poet John O’Donohue specifically reminds
us that a flowing river can
speak to us of surprise:-
I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
(
‘Fluent’ in ‘Conamara blues’ )
These short lines offer
a deep truth. In our imagination we can hold the idea of a flowing river
experiencing surprise as it makes its long journey, rushing swiftly at times,
tumbling over rocks, running through deep gorges, flowing in dark places as
well as sunny places, getting its breath back as it finds itself in gentle, serene
movement alongside green pastures where sheep nonchalantly graze. Rather like the
panorama of our own lives? ‘surprise’
is an important aspect of our spiritual journey, both alone and with others. We must never lose sight of the truth that
all human lives truly are surprising! Every person, even the one we are not
drawn to, has a value simply because they exist, a graceful manifestation
of a creative God. The fact that you and I actually exist at all is perhaps the
ultimate surprise. Cosmologists, including those who have embraced atheistic
philosophical stances, still wonder at the infinitesimally small mathematical
probability of life spontaneously emerging
anywhere across the whole universe. As we journey we can daily surprise
each other in love, friendship and servanthood. The important thing is that,
although surprise can sometimes be unwanted and negative, as well exciting and
positive, we do not travel alone because,
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He
makes me lie down in green pastures,
he
leads me beside quiet waters,
he
restores my soul. Psalm 23
LORD,
As Jesus constantly surprised his
first disciples, washing their feet, setting his determination on that final dangerous
visit to Jerusalem, sitting at table with the socially despised, reaching out
to touch those designated as untouchable, and telling his followers to love
their enemies,
LORD, surprise me
today, and each and every day, as I go about my daily life. May I bring the surprise of Christ’s love to
all whom I encounter. May I see with new eyes the surprise of Jesus’ spiritual journey, and the dazzling
brightness of the resurrection.
Terry
Rees March 2022
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