10 days of sailing adventure in Poland (31.08-9.09) - why not to think about meeting God in these categories? He who is Lord of all things likes to be found also outside the typical space of the church. Following this intuition, the Jesuits have been inviting us to a wave adventure together for several years.
Life on the Wave - the official name of the project - was born out of a combination of two passions: for prayer and contemplation, and for sailing. The beginnings of the project were timid and it was only during the next summer cruise in a row that the Jesuits realized that the joy of sailing on a yacht can be shared. And so for a few years now sailors have been making friends on the waters of Mazury, the Szczecinski Lagoon or Greifswald. This year we invite you to Masuria! The cruise crew consists of a dozen or so people each time, who usually sail on two yachts.
New flavours of silence
Phone, e-mail, Facebook, news - for many these are important elements of everyday life. So much so that sometimes you can have enough of them. Sometimes people start dreaming about jumping into a glass ball for a while, where they can spend some time with themselves. The moment you first go down to the quay after you arrive in the harbor and install yourself on the yacht definitely helps you to distance yourself from what you are coming with. The novelty of the experience, the boat and the emotions are so strongly absorbed that one quickly frees oneself from the thought of overdue exams or professional problems. Thus, the process of entering the silence, which discovers its new taste every day, begins.
Unity in diversity
Living on less than 20m2 in 7-8 people who share a kitchen, bathroom, toilet or moments of afternoon sleep below deck, it is impossible not to open up to others. And if the crew member does not feel like it, the others will quickly encourage him to do so! It is with them that he shares a room and less than 24 hours of his time during the day. The value of what sailors have created during the voyage is felt most strongly in the last days and hours of sailing. The moment of the crossings is almost always associated with a sense of loss. And there is no exaggeration in that! After crossing many barriers - intimacy, comfort, various temperaments, but also moments of stress experienced together, the crew becomes a living community. Life on the wave is made up of very different people, but they are always connected by their ultimately open hearts and souls.
Sailing like life
Facing the elements of water, wind, rain, but also your own interior, full of questions, doubts, joy or emptiness, requires attention and humility. Due to strong wind or failure, it is often necessary to correct plans. During the cruise, however, the final course is never forgotten. And despite temporary changes, the final correction is made. Who hasn't been through this in their everyday life? Crossing is also about facing your fears. When the first time a person is at the helm with a big wave and heeling the yacht, they often have to control their emotions and believe that the crew is really safe. It's no coincidence or the poets' idea that sailing is a metaphor for life. Or maybe the other way around?
*Life on the Wave - Jesuit retreat project for students and so-called young workers. Participants of the cruise each day individually consider the Word of God, participate in the Eucharist and share their experiences.
More about the 2020 Edition on our facebook profile:
Rafał Bulowski SJ
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Click Agree to accept.