Monday 9 March 2009

Ship to shore conversation

Someone I know is sailing around the world. The crew of five, aims to complete the challenge non-stop in 80 days. Currently on day 60 they are looking (although apparently not smelling) good, despite some difficult weather and a couple of emergency repairs. One repair required a trip up the mast, the height of 6.5 double-decker buses, on a trimaran tossing around in the middle of the ocean! It is terrifying just to read about each day on their website, but also thought-provoking – they are sailing around the world and in this technological age we can read of their adventure, almost as it happens.

The great thing about being a part of a community of people trying to keep connected to God in our sometimes storm-tossed lives is the live-ness of it all. Even to those of us not engaged in high adrenaline activities, the daily stuff of our lives is where God is – even the bits that don’t seem very wonderful. This is where we have our highs and lows and this is where we need him and each other.
The sailors are really bolstered by messages they get from people at home – not that there is anything anyone can do, but the contact encourages them, and the same is true here at home – Sometimes we don’t know whether people around us are having storm-tossed moments or not, but we keep talking and hope that somehow it helps, and are grateful in turn for those conversations that keep us connected.

1 comment:

Roy said...

I really like your image Sue. It is so encouraging when you get a message of encouragement from home when we are on our particular voyage. I often have another image when I see and talk to others who are being knocked about by life. I feel like the 'second in the corner' in the boxing ring at the end of a particularly gruelling round. All I can do is give a 'cold sponge', patch them up, wipe them down, and tell them they are doing great. Then pull the stall away and send them out into the next round! - but it seems to work.
Your right encouragement is so important.