Ascension : News From St. Mary's
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 12.02.2004 (Article Archived on 26.02.2004)

I'm always going to do amazing things when my "boat comes in" - when I win the Lottery or 'Ernie' comes up with the right Premium Bond!

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN

I'm always going to do amazing things when my "boat comes in" - when I win the Lottery or 'Ernie' comes up with the right Premium Bond! My imagination runs wild with what we shall do ....... pay off the house, share some with the family, give some to that charity nearest to our hearts, have a holiday, buy that Volvo I've always wanted and give the old one to someone who wouldn't be too embarrassed to drive it! - and so on ........

My fertile imagination ran riot yesterday when we read the story about Jesus and the big catch of fish; Jesus told Peter to let down his nets, and although he had been out all night and caught nothing, he does it - AND to his utter amazement there were so many fish that he had to call for help. I wondered what it would be like on the pierhead if it had happened here. Boats almost sinking because the nets were overflowing with Tuna? Oh, what a party there would be and what excitement! Day dreaming is great, but in fact most of us have to live life just as it is! The reality is a round of somewhat unspectacular routines and it's often tedious duties, with an occasional surprise. This week sees the RMS back again - the "boat comes in" with stores and returning passengers and that flurry of activity on the pierhead that always accompanies its arrival. It's a lifeline to 'home' for so many of us, yet we have become accustomed to its comings and goings.

Have you ever thought of the "boat coming in" every day? No, not the RMS! Each day brings us into contact with other people and they bring with them some quite spectacular 'prizes' - things we can learn and share; personalities that can have within them such surprising gifts, interesting stories and bits of knowledge. There is a wealth of experience out there even in the most unlikely places and where you least expect to find anything exceptional. So often we don't even look, or expect, we don't recognise the amazing diversity of people - we take it for granted. We look at one another sometimes without any sense of expectancy and the 'boat' comes in with nothing but the old routines.

Why not, instead of dreaming about what might be when your boat comes in, take a look around you - look again and consider "what a wonderful world" - what gifts there are around you to be found and enjoyed - on your own doorstep - in your own home - where you work. We must have our dreams, but the realities of life, the real depths and mysteries of life are right here ........ next to us. Enjoy them!

Fr Brian

NOTICES

Next Sunday, Fr Clive returns and we look forward to hearing about his course at RAF Amport House