It seems a long while since we went first to the seaside with our small children. The excited preparations that were made, and the pre-emptive discussions about how we might ‘rush into the waves’ are distant memories. Being fortunate enough to live within easy reach of Southwold, we discovered that to rent a beach hut for a week was simple way to make a superbly relaxing break with all the advantages of being home at night. We thought those memories were only that, memories, not to be revived.
This summer all that was turned on its head. Two year old granddaughter in tow, ready to help Pa every time he nearly got in a ‘proper muddle’ (phrase of the week) we revived the beach hut experience and shared it with the next generation. We went down onto the sand to build a castle with a tower on top, just where previous works had been created years before. The rising generation was not to know that the recently declined one, my late father also holidayed on that beach ‘before the war’. Same sand, same sea air, same breeze in the afternoon and yet simultaneously all fresh and new to being new delights to young, happy, smiling, giggling faces.
And here were are. Father went to Southwold ‘before the war’. When I was a child we were heading into times of industrial disquiet and high cost price inflation. Grown-ups were worried about the future. So, when a little hand gripped mine to cross the road carefully so we didn’t get into ‘a proper muddle’ I thought fleetingly about the distant future. Will she grow up and come back here too with the same concerns about peace and the cost of living that we have?
Looking back through a few quickly taken photos I was reminded of the freshness of it all; the newly levelled beach, receding tide, sea breeze and sunshine – and remembered to give thanks that as an optimist I always look ahead with hope and as a Christian I can look back and see where, when I was in proper muddle, my hand was held and I was shown the fresh start made possible by Jesus’s sacrifice for me.
The hymn for today is StF 347, Crown him with many crowns. Matthew Bridges begins in general terms with big points to make and closes very personally.
A hymn prayer
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.
Hold my hand, Lord, and help me through my ‘proper muddles’ as you have helped so many before me and will continue to do for those after me, until time is no more. Amen.