By Alyssa Bormes
My whole bag was packed – my swimsuit, the kickboard, a towel, shower flip-flops, and the assorted other stuff that one takes to the gym. Fantastic! This new commitment to working out was going great. With bag in hand and ready to walk out the door, I realized that I had forgotten one thing – the padlock for the locker.
After going through a million drawers and containers, it appeared to be lost. If you find it, the combination is 36-4-10; go ahead and use it.
In the past two years, having moved houses, broken my ankle, hurt my knee, had knee surgery, followed by a car accident, and a subsequent shoulder replacement, I’ve had a tendency to misplace a few things.
On that day of nearly swimming, I did have the idea that I could stop by the hardware store on the way to the pool and purchase a lock. However, I had a better idea! How about a bath? Cool – with bath-bomb in hand and a good book – I successfully avoided exercise!
Then on Divine Mercy Sunday, I was in the confessional.
No – I did not confess the missed swim day – which is really more like odd-water-walking-kickboard-clumsiness.
But I did confess a habitual sin – the thorn in my side.
And Father, without asking, knew that I had been neglecting my daily rosary. I was to begin it again that day. So I did.
But the clumsy-swimming-avoidance-thing and the lack of attention to the rosary kept itching in my head.
Then there was that moment – the “Aha”’ one. I had neglected something else. I used to do the swim-walk-you-can’t-be-serious-that-you-call-that-exercise-clownish-at-least-I’m-moving-thing for an hour at a time. And, it isn’t exactly easy to keep yourself in the pool and moving in your lane for that long without being wildly bored, so I would pray the rosary. Thirty minutes was one rosary, and sixty minutes was two.
You guessed it; I’ve got a new combination lock, and I’m back in the pool praying the rosary. In other words, every other day of the week while in my pink flowered swimsuit, I have an aquatic holy hour.
And, although it might be funny looking… the combination is good!
About the Author:
Alyssa Bormes is an educator, author, speaker, and retreat leader. She currently teaches at the Chesterton Academy in Edina, Minnesota, writes for the Catholic Spirit, and the W.I.N.E blog, is the host of a weekly show, “Christian Witnesses in the Church,” on Radio Maria US, and is the author of The Catechism of Hockey. You can find her at alyssabormes.com.
Awesome! Thank you
Thanks!
As always, your writing was “Fantastic” as you would put it. You make me smile. Now off for my walk and Rosary!!!!
Oh – so good to hear from you – you are Fantastic!
Love it. Both that your exercising (go Alyssa) and praying the rosary. As a physical therapist, I see commonalities is both, the water and mother, Mary, are lifting you up, lightening the load being placed on your mine, body and soul! Besides, who can resist a daughter in a cute, pink bathing suite! Go girl. Have a great week.
Thank you – and I love the idea of being irresistible in the pink bathing suit!
This is fantastic–all of it! From the “I should” thoughts to being distracted from getting to the good things for us, I just totally related! Thank you for the wonderful idea of using times such as exercise to pray the rosary! Here comes May!
Yes – I never even thought of May being right around the corner – especially because we have a couple feet of snow still! Thank you!
YOU! – in the flowered swimsuit – casting your flowers of prayer on the waters (Rosaries are garlands of flowers, after all)! – You are the one who makes the Mother Mary’s heart soar with happiness as she brings those flowers to her Son, and says: “Look! Aren’t these beautiful?! They’re from your daughter, Alyssa!”
Love You, Alyssa Bormes. You touch my heart.
Ah Carol – you made me tear up! Thank you for your kind words – I expect Jesus and Mary will share that knowing little grin when they accept my aquatic bouquet.
I need this today. You are amazing. You are my warm hug and and get moving in a positive direction. Love the Rosary idea to the swim idea. Found out yesterday need both knees replaced asap
God sends amazing messages thu his children. You are a light from God today. God’s blessings and Peace
Ah – Lindalee – you are the disciple Jesus loves! Here is what is odd – even as I wrote it – I knew that the article would be just fine without mentioning my assorted issues with all my joints, including the shoulder replacement. But for some reason I left it in. Now that I know it helped you – I just see it as another moment of Jesus showing off! He is amazing – His message comes through the oddest instruments – this time just an old gal in a flowered pink swimsuit. I’ll pray for you and your knees and your surgeon and your therapist and everyone who will care for you – all the prayers during an aquatic rosary!
A ‘Holy Aha’ has struck me too! As someone who hates to exercise (but should!) I love the idea of turning the time into a time of prayer. I can take care of my bodily temple as well as my spiritual temple. What an awesome idea! Bless you!
Thank you Renee!
Way to go girl!!
Oh Ruth! – I might be a little nervous that you read this – because I know you will hold me to the aquatic holy hours! Well – here we go!
Thank you for your words! I enjoy reading your articles. They make me smile . I love those “Aha’s” I’ve been trying to get back to Pietra Fitness because it is that combination of exercise and prayer. I needed the reminder and encouragement! God bless your day!
Thank you Loree – WINE is all about the spiritual sisterhood – and we will spiritually be together in prayer and exercise.
Alyssa, I can so relate to this. THANK YOU! For lent I turned off the radio in my car and decided to say the rosary instead. Sometimes I can only get a decade in as I travel between visits for my job, but sometimes, I can say several rosaries in a day. It brought about such peace and calm I didn’t go back to the radio after lent. Let’s continue to pray – any time, amy where!
Let’s pray an Ave for each other!