the sailors prayer

i listened to a documentary on the radio the other day
sailors, fisherman, oil riggers, deck hands, merchant marines,
all coming in for a brief harbor this time of year
it spoke to the odd life they live compared to those of us on land
the short time in harbour is when they buy supplies, see family, etc..
the person doing the documentary was a volunteer that helps these men,
very often they have such little time to find everything they need,
so people from churches go to the harbour to help them out.
one sailor needed a violin string, others needed sewing materials,
but the most important thing to the sailors on one ship was Mass
they were all Catholic and asked if a priest could come aboard,
administer the sacraments, hold a Mass, and bless them and their ship
one man became emotional when he was told this could be arranged,
these are hardened men of the sea,
the hunger for Jesus in the Eucharist was palpable,
and the cool thing was, the radio show was not religious at all
it hit me how often i take for granted that i can receive Him daily
i want to stay that hungry for His gift..

wkm