On Your Shore - Mt 14

Begin by breathing deeply and slowly. Take three breaths with a special consciousness.

  1. On the first think of a time when you were you were your best self.
  2. On the second think of what you are grateful for in this moment.
  3. On the third think about a question you have? This might be about how you are, what you need, some thing deep in your being?

Now choose one of the photos below that fits how you feel. You may need to imagine your own image.

Read the text slowly

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

The Colloquy
A colloquy. You are in the boat with the other disciples. As you can see Jesus arrives and yes, this is serious discussion, yet an intimate conversation between yourself and Jesus. You are on Jesus’ shore – the threshold between the divine imagination and human experience.  In the background you can hear Enya’s On your Shore. Allow what words speak to you to resonate. Stay with the lyrics that really capture you and share what is in your heart and mind with Jesus. Listen as God’s Spirit moves in you. Discuss this with Jesus. Finally, an echo in the background of this conversation should always be what I am doing, have done, ought to do or will do for Jesus.

Enya – On Your Shore from the Album Watermark

Strange how my heart beats
To find myself upon your shore
Strange how I still feel
My loss of comfort gone before
Cool waves wash over
And drift away with dreams of youth
So time is stolen
I cannot hold you long enough
And so this is where I should be now
Days and nights falling by
Days and nights falling by me
I know of a dream I should be holding
Days and nights falling by
Days and nights falling by me
Soft blue horizons
Reach far into my childhood days
As you are rising
To bring me my forgotten ways
Strange how I falter
To find I’m standing in deep water
Strange how my heart beats
To find I’m standing on your shore