Taking the Holy Plunge

What the Water Gave Me Heather Horton 2020

 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

John 21: 7-8 NRSVue

Swimming, swimming,

In my swimming pool,
When days are hot,
When days are cool,
In my swimming pool,

Breast stroke, side stroke,
Fancy diving too,
Now don't you wish you never had,
Anything else to do... but!
(Repeat forever)

                 Ancient Summer Camp Song

Last Sunday morning we attended worship at Trenton United but we decided to head down to Prince Edward County beforehand in the hopes of our first swim of the year. We ended up at North Beach Provincial Park and swam in the protected lagoon rather than the icy waters of Lake Ontario. It was wonderful, a baptismal experience before we got to church. 

When I was a teen I trained to be a lifeguard, swimming what seemed like a million chlorinated laps, and we both enjoy a plunge in a pool. But there is something about swimming in lakes or rivers or oceans which is exceptional. Have I mentioned that when we were in the Azores a few years ago we discovered the pools and inlets set up around the islands with showers and changing facilities in lieu of public swimming pools? We loved them. 

I saw the painting above by Heather Horton on the Canadian Paintings Twitter feed and it really is remarkable. When I checked out her website there are several more works which feature swimmers. In her Artist's Statement she says:

 I always paint what my mind wants to know more about, and I find exploring each branch exciting and rewarding. Internal states, the contemplation of self and existence, and letting space around the subject encompass and inform its reality are the running themes and approaches to my work.

The Swimmer -- wooden carved sculpture by Stefanie Rocknak

For me there is something contemplative about swimming, immersive, and in the best moments, holy. 

Over the years I've wondered whether Jesus could swim, having grown up not far from the Sea of Galilee (actually a lake.) Sure, he could walk on water, but could he do the front crawl. Several of his disciples were fishermen, so wouldn't they have been able to swim? The illustration from a Sunday School lesson reminds us of the story in John's gospel where the resurrected Jesus appears to the some of the disciples  and Peter can't wait to bring in the boat.

I hope we get a bunch of opportunities to take the plunge this summer and that they will be playful and religious experiences.