At Sea: A Poem for Uncertain Times








Photo by Silje Lilly

At Sea

 We are all at sea.
The horizon is fluid,
It’s mountains are 
Ever changing.
Squalls bring tomorrow 
into now.
We intertwine our limbs
Into the rigging
And hope the waves 
Don’t tear us at the seams,
As the celestial force of time
Crashes over our bows
And threatens our creaky hull
With a premature eternity 

We are all at sea.
Planning our routes by
Liquid landmarks.
A drift in a stillness
That stretches today 
Into starvation.
We sink our teeth 
Into the decks
And hope for waves
To vibrate in our gums,
Our souls thirst for wind
To catch our sails and move us 
From an eternal moment
Into change.
James 4:13-16




This poem about uncertainty, about unexpected change that can disturb our plans, and about a muting of hoped for change, seems to be appropriate during the current crisis. In our modern times, especially in developed countries, our routines and plans can seem so firm and can become our existential comfort. When things out of our control disturb them we can panic, become anxious, depressed, angry.

There have been a few people on social media encouraging everyone to use this time of enforced isolation to slow down, appreciate the little things and the simple things. This is great advice! And at this time where everyone has lost something, whether it be someone we love, times of community and family gatherings, work opportunities, investments etc... there's something I'd like to add. Try to use this time to learn to hold your plans loosely. To accept that we are at sea, and we live by liquid landmarks. We do not and should not have complete control over tomorrow, so try to hold plans more loosely. Try to allow yourself to adapt to change. Try to distinguish between the essentials you need to survive and the comfort to which you have become accustomed. This will help us garner thanks for what we do have, and to use this time to appreciate the simple things.

Oh, and spend time reading, not just watching Netflix. 


Take care of yourselves.
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Comments

  1. NH16 March 2020 at 09:33

    Thanks Pete, this is just what I needed, feeling very physically vulnerable, but spiritually lifted, Nick
    I shared the blog on my fb page, hope that's okay, let me know if not

    ReplyDelete
  2. David C Brown8 October 2020 at 14:03

    We need Christ as the Helmsman - James 3: 4!
    Here's a Voyage: https://dcbverse.blogspot.com/2018/01/voyage.html

    ReplyDelete

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