Movement held fast

Today is the feast day of Brendan the Navigator (c486-575). He founded many monasteries in Ireland, and voyaged in the Atlantic, perhaps to the New World. A prayer attributed to him reads:

Shall I abandon the comforts and benefits of my home,
seeking the island of promise our fathers knew long ago,
sail on the face of the deep where no riches or fame
or weapons protect you, and nobody honours your name?
Shall I take leave of my friends
and my beautiful native land,
tears in my eyes
as my knees mark my final prayer in the sand?
King of the mysteries, will you set watch over me?
Christ of the mysteries, can I trust you on the sea?

This ironwork around the tree caught my eye - someone else had blipped something similar the other day. There are waves, signs of the ocean, yet they are held fixed in place, unable to move.

It is three years since I first read of Brendan while on a life-transforming course which resulted in me doing what I do now. And yet, the freedom and uncertainty and motion have passed and I seem to be spending far too much of my life planning, analysing and staring at fixed lines on maps. Held, fixed in place, unable to move.

BUT I know that I am doing things that I am called to do and good at, and I bring an unique contribution to the teams with which I work, so from Brendan again,

Christ of the heavens,
and Christ of the ravenous ocean wave,
I will hold fast to my course
through the dangers I must brave.
King of the mysteries, angels will watch over me,
Christ of the mysteries, when I trust you on he sea.