This is the Sea

I've been hearing This is the Sea in my head for a while now -- it always speaks to me of journeys, transformations, efforts attempted, triumphs and failures. I think it is due to the journey I am witnessing in the black belt candidates at the moment.

They have come very far, but still have a long way to go. For the last couple of months I've found myself comfortable falling into the role of guide and counsellor to some, mentor to others. This insight has gone alongside the realization of how much this role means to me. Somehow, I have found a vocation through my martial arts training, and it feels good.

There was a psalm/song that was repeated for several weeks at church this year, whose theme was answering a call. For Catholics it refers to a call from God to live in a particular way. Given my sometimes ambivalent perspective on the church, I have found in it a reference to the calling I have found at the martial arts school.

So here I am. I place myself at the service of those who need me. As the song says, 'those who are weary, who have been alone too long, those suffering from a few too many plans that have gone wrong...'

I trust that I will help them find their way.

(Oh, as far as the video goes -- I try not to have regrets, but my one 'disappointment' in my life is that I've never stood up on a long board. If anyone ever asks me what I would want to be, my answer is always a surfer. I believe they live a life of transcendance every day they are on the water, and I would love to experience that. It was fantastic that when I went to find a video of the Waterboys tune, up popped a video that married the song to a big wave documentary. I love Youtube, but BTW, I'm getting a little tired of blogger's anti-intuitive editing functions...)