{"id":816,"date":"2017-03-27T06:00:47","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.davidwithington.com\/blog\/?p=816"},"modified":"2017-03-26T23:08:53","modified_gmt":"2017-03-26T22:08:53","slug":"walk-on-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davidwithington.com\/walk-on-water\/","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Year-Old Who Walked on Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was beginning to feel a twinge of emotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

50 years was a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The five-minute sail across to the island was providing me with plenty of time to contemplate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What would I remember after so long?<\/span><\/p>\n

My gaze broke away from the small passenger boat\u2019s swell, and I began to stare at the looming castle perched high on the small island.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A short boat trip to the island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One particular childhood event was permanently etched in my memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

I must have been about 6 years old.\u00a0<\/span>At that time, Dad worked on the railway. And one of the perks of the job was a complimentary railway ticket for the whole family – to anywhere in the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n

So one year he took advantage of that privilege, and we had a break from our annual pilgrimage to North Wales. We took the train to Penzance, Cornwall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Penzance?<\/span><\/p>\n

Because that was the furthest point south we could reach by train.<\/span><\/p>\n

My Dad believed in getting good value. I suppose I\u2019m a chip off the old block.<\/span><\/p>\n

St Micheal\u2019s Mount is a small island just off the mainland, near to Penzance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Its magnificent castle stands proudly on top of the rock, dominating the skyline and beckoning visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we headed there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>
We could see St Michael’s Mount from the shore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I remember the excitement of the boat ride to the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it was what was to happen a few days later that etched the memory of that boat trip deep inside my brain.<\/span><\/p>\n

On that first visit to Saint Micheal\u2019s Mount, we all sailed across.<\/span><\/p>\n

But a few days later, Mum and I returned – and we walked across.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you imagine the confusion for a six year old?<\/span><\/p>\n

One day we had to sail across the sea. But the next time we were able to walk across the sea. Was Mum doing some sort of Biblical miracle?<\/span><\/p>\n

Later Dad explained about \u201cthe causeway\u201d, and eventually I understood about how the path was hidden when the tide rose.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Causeway to St Michael’s Mount, disappearing beneath the water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Life\u2019s like that sometimes.<\/span><\/p>\n

One day the path is easy. Another day, we just can\u2019t see it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But remember\u2026 there\u2019s always a way, even if we can\u2019t figure it out immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m still discovering that, more than 50 years later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever had a similar experience? I’d love to hear about it. Pop it into the comments box and let\u2019s keep the conversation going.<\/span><\/p>\n