Prayer for the Day – (Not) going swimming

Available for 29 days

Good morning.

I lately determined to take up swimming – I’m not an incredible swimmer, however I hear that it’s good for the entire physique. I discovered my native pool on-line, and obtained up early one morning to go there. I don’t find out about you, however new issues like this – as small as they appear – could make me extra anxious than acquainted issues, even when these ones are extra advanced. It can really feel simpler to remain inside what we all know: veering from this calls for new inner ‘muscles’. I arrived on the leisure centre, able to be congratulated for my dawning bravery: solely to seek out that there have been no individuals behind the desk, however solely screens, on which to scan in. I didn’t know I wanted to e book forward utilizing an app! With the morning slots already stuffed up, I might solely flip round and go residence.

This stung. I’m a comparatively younger man, and as a priest my present function includes working with younger individuals every day – so I prefer to suppose I’m pretty literate on the earth of tech. But to be thwarted by a pc on this manner felt irritating, and silencing.

Ultimately, that is no large deal – I’ve now realized for subsequent time find out how to e book a slot on the pool. But it gave me thought to individuals, younger and previous, who for no matter purpose will be remoted in a world that has turn into mediated by screens. Pope John Paul II as soon as mentioned, “the body… and only the body, is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and the divine.” When we take away one another from a scenario, we take away the soul of that different, and we’re prevented from a second of encounter, which we so want – even simply to say, ‘please can I go swimming’. In a world of ultra-connectivity, we every must make an effort to hunt actual and deep reference to the individuals round us – let’s resolve to start with these round us right this moment.

Lord,
you may have made us in your picture.
Help us to know what a present our humanity is,
and permit it to be seen by others.
Amen.

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