A Breath Of Fresh Air.

02 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by Soul Surfers in Uncategorized Tags: belhaven, csuk, faith, mbc, new year, sas, scotland, soul surfer, surfers against sewage, surfing

There are few places I’d rather have been than stretching the legs and clearing my head out on the beach on New Years’ Day.  Whilst the last few days have been crammed full of great times spent with friends and family, I was suffering a sense of being somewhat cooped up, with a natural tendency towards grazing on a wide array of food. 

Today I traded the comfort and coziness of wood-burning stoves and hot air blowers in car journeys for the fresh coastal breeze that heralded in 2012 and awoke my senses from their slumber.  Old friendships were re-kindled and new ones invested in over a walk, shared flasks of soup, tea, hot-chocolate and tins full of tray-bakes, brownies and flap-jacks. 

Sometimes I just need the miles of sand, acres of sky and the vastness of the sea to re-calibrate and to re-orientate.  In the simple act of inhaling the fresh sea air until my lungs feel at full-capacity and I realise afresh how that renders me fully alive in this very moment.  To acknowledge that there is a heart full of thankfulness within me and to recognise that there is also a sadness for the things and people who were lost somewhere along the way last year.  To cast out to sea the regrets, short-comings and disappointments and to wonder what lies beyond the horizon.

Traditionally we spend these few days wishing one another a ”Happy New Year”.  Clearly that is my desire for us all, however, maybe, I’d  rather wish you a breath of fresh air for 2012?  To dare to dream that new life would be breathed into the old, that everything stagnant and overly-familiar or routine would burst into new growth and vibrancy.  Sometimes, it’s in those very moments where everything falls apart and our own plans and dreams are dashed on the rocks that we realise where our props have been and we gain a new perspective and determination to face the future.  Whilst none of us would wish: job uncertainty; relationship difficulties; financial struggles; health concerns; or anything similar upon anyone – these are realities that some of us will face in 2012.  It has been my experience that life defining moments can be forged out of both the high and low water marks.  I am increasingly convinced that we need friendships, community and an anchor for the storms of life and, equally, we want those things and those people around us to share in the celebration for the high points.   

So, may the cobwebs be blown away, may your embers be stoked and would you and I walk into this new year with fresh courage, hope and belief that life is there for the living, we can make a difference and we each have a role to play. 

2012? – Bring it on!    

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