Swim

Today’s the day. I couldn’t get the app to work. Couldn’t get an answer on the phone either. So I walked over to the gym to book a swim. I did. Gyms are open again. Apparently you can book a swim time on your phone. Except it doesn’t work. They know that now because I told them. But I was able to book a time for a swim by talking to them in person. A bit old fashioned, but it works!. To use the gym you can just turn up and use it. But for a swim you have to book. What I think that means is that I get a guaranteed swim. By that I mean there won’t be too many other people there having a swim. That’s because there will be limit on how many people can swim at the same time. And that will work in my favour. I asked about how long I could be in the pool. Half an hour. Hmmm. That’s great, but it’s not quite long enough. I need about two more minutes to finish my swim. I could try and swim really fast I guess. But I haven’t been swimming since 19th March. I might be a bit off the pace! So I’ll have to aim for the metric mile not the imperial mile (four lengths different in case you’re wondering). And, who knows? Maybe I’ll make it. But I’m really excited to get back in the pool. I am really looking forward to swimming again. I enjoy swimming. I enjoy the physical challenge. I enjoy the sense of freedom I get from it when I’m in the pool. I like to know I’m helping to keep my body in working order. I love the sense of accomplishment when I’m done. I like to challenge myself and see if I can better my times. It’s funny the things we look forward to don’t you think? Let’s be honest, swimming is great but it’s only temporary. I’ll get half an hour later today. The I’ll book another time and do the same again. And so on. It does help me to keep healthy. It really does. It’s a good thing to do to look after the body God has given me. But, and here’s the thing, my body is only temporary. Truth is, one day, my body will stop. I like to believe I’ll be the first person in human history who has a body that doesn’t wear out or be forced to stop. But I know in my peart its’ not going to happen. Even mum wasn’t going to die. Until she did. It’s a reminder that our bodies are temporary. I can spend many hours keeping my body healthy by swimming, running, biking or playing football or golf. But, one day it will stop. Ecclesiastes 7 v 2 tells us that it’s better to go to the house of mourning than to a party. Which seems an odd thing to say. But it then says (in my words) that wise people will think about the reality of death and live well in the light of it. Hmmm. There’s noting wrong with looking forward to a swim. It’s a good thing to do. And when I’ve finished today, I can look forward to another swim. And then another. But, however many swims I do, for however long, my body will, one day, stop. I would do well to listen to Ecclesiastes and be ready for that. Like mum was. To see the bigger picture of God’s bigger and better story. And to swim in the ocean of God’s great and magnificent love.