The Albatross falls from his neck

Towards the end of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner the Mariner tries to pray but the words are like dust in his mouth and he can’t get them out. The curse has destroyed the crew and their rotting bodies lay all around the Mariner on the rotting deck of the ship. He turns his eyes away from the gruesome scene, thinking about the curse that’s slowly dragging him into Hell. But then his eyes fall upon some of Gods creatures swimming in the water near the boat. He watches them closely and begins to admire their great beauty. And almost unaware of what he’s doing, he begins to bless them and suddenly breaks out in prayer to the God who made such beautiful and graceful creatures. The curse immediately begins to break and the Albatross falls from his neck and sinks down like lead into the sea.

I don’t know that much about Samuel Taylor or exactly what he meant to communicate in this poem, but what a picture of the work of God in our salvation.

Before the Spirit of God begins his work in our hearts we cannot see God in anything and true religion is like dust in our mouths; we find no refreshment, joy nor beauty in it. And often times when the Spirit of God does begin to work we are overwhelmed by the guilt of our sin and the bitterness of the curse.

But then God causes us to be born again and everything changes; the eyes of our heart fall upon Christ and we suddenly perceive the beauty and joy of salvation and true religion. Our mouths are filled with prayer and praises and we begin to see God in everything. The ultimate bitterness of the curse is broken and the guilt that hung about our necks like the Albatross is cut and falls like lead into the sea of Gods forgiveness!

“The self same moment I could pray;
And from my neck so free
The Albatross fell off, and sank
Like lead into the sea.”

It kind of reminds me of the words to Charles Wesley’s famous hymn:

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,--
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”