December 22, 2024
Some seafaring prayers for the new year…
“Some things in life ebb as others flow,
and some things flow as others ebb.
Lord, let my praises never reach an ebb tide.”
~ David Adam
The following prayer is ascribed to Saint Brendan the Navigator before sailing across the Atlantic (late 5th century).
This is perhaps a prayer for all who set out on fresh adventures with God – and indeed the adventure of a new year…
Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries,
the soft comforts of home?
Shall I turn my back on my native land,
and turn my face towards the sea?
Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy,
without silver, without a horse, without fame, without honor?
Shall I throw myself wholly upon You, without sword and shield,
without food and drink, without a bed to lie on?
Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land,
placing myself under Your yoke?
Shall I pour out my heart to You,
confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness,
tears streaming down my cheeks?
Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach,
a record of my final prayer in my native land?
Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict?
Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean?
O King of the Glorious Heaven,
shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?
O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves?
——————-
Whether an allegory or partially based on fact, Brendan’s story of crossing the Atlantic in small, fragile boats, stands as a metaphor for the journey of faith – risk taking but discovering God’s care and provision. May this year, 2025, be such a year for us…
Julian Holdsworth
BSBC Pastor