Today was a great day for the Marlin’s organization at our community center pool. The annual ritual of time trials to see if a child has the right stuff to swim like a Marlin.

It is easy to become lost in the moment and miss what is really going on at this event.

“Developing spirituality”, Ursula King writes, can be described as “creating an oasis for the soul”. It is about making a place for nurturing the deepest wellsprings of our human being. So it is as much a process of creating an internal space for learning, maturing and growing the spiritual self, as about finding spiritual places and activities in the material world. Reference

The wisdom of our community was to invest in a space where people gather providing an oasis for our children to explore. I am not talking about the building the pool as I am talking about providing a safe place for children to explore their “gift” (a natural ability or talent).

I watched a child no taller than my hip swim a little, grab the rope, swim some more and repeat until several minutes later reaching the end. I am so proud I got to witness encouragement, support and this little one overcoming the vast 25 meters of fear to the other side. Then there was the celebration and applause of congratulations or perhaps a little thank goodness he is out of the pool for the next group.

Either way, the process of growing a family is understanding each child must explore as many experiences as possible to find their gifts prior to being an adult. As a child, failing and trying again is the journey to finding one’s gift. The Marlin’s provide a place for our children to explore discipline, self-confidence, accomplishment, teamwork, social wellbeing, and most of all FUN.

Thanks to the many volunteers who help remind me of purpose.