As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
freefall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
“The Avowal” by Denise Levertov
I dreamt once that I was swept from shore out to sea by a tsunami. I was swept miles out to sea, miles beyond my ability to swim back to shore. How did I even know which direction the shore was, in that situation? In my dream, I began to swim back. I am used to swimming in the ocean and this water was warm. Yet, after a couple of miles of continuous swimming, I was exhausted. Worrying about what to do, I tread water for a moment. Then, I laid on my back on the surface of the water and I suddenly realized that I could float! The water would support me! I did not have to swim or tread water the whole time! I did not need to try so hard. And then, in my dream, it was as if the warm water, which was holding me there as I floated, was God. I could relax. I would return to shore. It was only a matter of grace. And I floated in the embrace of God.