Hertingfordbury Parish News: March 2004

Swimming in the Dark

A young man was training to be a competitive swimmer. He had dreams of one day making a national team. The only religious influence in his life came from an outspoken Christian friend as he, himself, was an agnostic. His college closed for the Easter break but the young man stayed on. On Good Friday evening he decided to go for a swim in the indoor pool at the college. Unusually, the lights were off but he managed to slip in by a side door that had been left unlocked. The pool area was dark but skylights let in some glow from the full moon that was hidden among the clouds.

The young man wasn’t afraid of swimming in near darkness and, anyway, he wanted to practise in peace. So he climbed up to the highest diving board and turned his back to the pool on the very edge of the board. As he extended his arms out and arched his back, the full moon broke through the clouds and he saw his shadow in sharp relief on the wall. The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross. The young man paused for a moment, poised on the very edge of the board, struck by the stark image.

It vividly reminded him of what his Christian friend had said about Good Friday. About how Jesus stepped in to save us from certain death. Then he heard footsteps approaching and, embarrassed, decided not to complete his dive. A moment later a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs.

Please note: Although the Hertingfordbury Parish News is produced by St. Mary's PCC, the opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the PCC.