The sea figures large in the story of Ireland, for the plain reason that it has not been possible to get there or to leave there without using it until the arrival of flying.
At first this thought seems incompatible with the observation that Ireland is not thought of as an old seafaring nation in the manner of England, Portugal or the Netherlands. This is explained by the history in which the peak years of seafaring fame were ones in which Ireland was in union with England and Wales.
And so, in an Irish country house by the sea we came across this; a letter from Admiral Nelson in the era when Irish bays were suitable resting places for English fighting ships.
What struck me about the letter - quite exciting to see a real letter from such a person in such a place - was what it is about. A great battle won perhaps? A secret disclosure for the King's attention? A theological observation (he was, after all, the son of a clergyman)?
It is, mundanely, a request for a new sail for his ship.
No matter how great a man or a woman is, they are nothing unless they can catch the winds that blow. And this is the more true of any Christian, for we all need to be able to be moved for God the Holy Spirit, the wind of heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment