6 | panmure swimming holy | kirrae whurrung country #Lent 2023

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (Mark 1:9)

I am prayer-reading the story of Jesus’ baptism. Using the tools of lectio divina, I read it slowly once, twice, three times. Using my sacred imagination, I place myself in the crowd, watching; as a priest, coming down against this baptism; as John, holding people close as I plunge them into the river …

… and suddenly I am in the golden light in the waters of the Panmure swimming hole. I can hear a rushing in my ears, my slow heartbeat, the sound of bubbles rising as I sink into the murky shadows. A pause, then I’m kicking, swimming back up out of darkness, back through the tannin-stained waters, back through the golden light, up, up, breaching the surface, the sky wide overhead and eucalypts on the bank witnessing, bending, blessing. A voice ripples through me like a stream of living water: ‘You are my beloved.’ Beloved. Yes, you. Also you. Ω

What is this? Lent is the 40 days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. Traditionally it is a time of reflection and pilgrimage. To help you on this journey, Sanctuary has put together daily stories and images from people in the congregation which are focused on God in this place. Why this theme? Read this! #Lent2023. Our Spiritual Geography © Sanctuary, 2023. Sanctuary is based on Peek Whurrong country. Full acknowledgement of country here.