During early Lent, and before the current COVID-19 restrictions enforced social distancing, I visited St Declan’s parishioner, Juliette Banerjee, at the Australian National Maritime Museum where Juliette leads guided tours as a volunteer.

The museum tour highlighted for me the challenges and beauty of life for someone living and working out on the ocean. These people experience similar challenges that we go through during Lent. These challenges include desolation, fear, lack of control, and everything going wrong sometimes. I am sure sailors, fisherman, and surfers have had their encounters with God on these oceans and many of these people would be people of faith.

With this in my mind, a few maritime exhibitions reminded me of my journey towards Easter, including boats and a beautiful lighthouse. However, my Lenten experience reached a high point as I entered the submarine. Submarines are built to go into the deepest part of the oceans. These are the most isolated places on earth. Being so far from home, the crew would need to grow in maturity together to make the submarine’s mission possible. This would be achieved by working together under difficult circumstances, finding creative ways to rest and relax, and serving one another to keep camaraderie going. These are similar to the virtues that we hope to grow in during Lent.

I am filled with gratitude for Juliette! It was wonderful to spend the afternoon with a woman of such faith. I learnt more about Juliette’s life outside of church and how she serves our community. Juliette’s leadership, knowledge, joy, and teaching gifts are helpful and appreciated by so many.

I learnt through this experience that as one grows closer to the ocean one grows closer to God.