I vividly remember the agonizing wait. The sun-warmed concrete beneath my feet, the shimmering pool just steps away, and the relentless ticking of the clock as I counted down those interminable 30 minutes after lunch. "You'll get cramps if you swim too soon!" came the well-meaning admonition from parents and lifeguards alike.
For generations, this sage advice has been passed down, a seemingly inviolable law of summer. Yet, as it turns out, this particular pearl of wisdom is more myth than medical fact. Recent studies have debunked the notion that swimming on a full stomach poses any significant risk.
So why did we believe it for so long? And more importantly, what does this revelation tell us about the nature of belief itself?
The power of belief is a central tenet in A Course in Miracles, which teaches us that perceptions shape our reality. As we read in Lesson 132, "There is no world apart from what you wish, and herein lies your ultimate release. Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly."
Our steadfast adherence to the 30-minute rule exemplifies this principle perfectly. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, generations of children obediently waited, sometimes forgoing meals to maximize swim time. The belief was so strong that it manifested physical sensations - the imagined onset of cramps, the perceived heaviness in our limbs.
This is not to mock or belittle such beliefs. Rather, it serves as a poignant reminder of the mind's incredible power to shape our experience. As the Course reminds us, "Perception is a mirror, not a fact. And what I look on is my state of mind, reflected outward."
The swimming myth invites us to consider: what other beliefs might we hold that seem equally unassailable, yet may not stand up to scrutiny? What "truths" do we cling to that may be limiting our joy, our peace, our sense of freedom?
Join me in Thursday's class as we explore how beliefs shape our reality and learn to plunge into the depths of inner peace. I look forward to seeing you then.