Explorer 100
My girls love the beach. Not unlike their mother who aspires to live in a house overlooking the ocean. They wake up squealing, piercing cries of uninhibited childhood joy. The sun, the sand, the shells, but most of all the waves.
The waves are taller and stronger than the girls. The problem- drowning, the solution…. Explorer 100. We needed a plan, we bought this little black and yellow boat.
For $13.00 we purchased a memory.
For three days they rode. The look on their faces was priceless. Half absolute thrill- the other half, pure unprecedented terror. Never knowing if the boat would hold, not certain is the life jackets would work. Always watching for the “Big One” fearful of flipping, but anticipating and half desiring a wild ride.
The calls from the boat were genuine. Glee sprinkled with a little uncertainty. Little did they know … no matter how high the wave, no matter how scary the situation, no matter the wind or wave---
I was holding the rope!
There was no way the situation was out of my hand. I had them in my grip. They might not feel like it. They might not even see the rope or know I was holding it. But there was no way I was letting go.
I kept it from flipping- from going too far or getting too dangerous.
You know, I was sitting there on the beach and I started to think. I wonder if that is what we look like to God.
Willingly getting into the boat of this Christian life, ready to hang on for a life of adventure, a wild wonderful ride. Everything is great, then the wind starts to blow.
Relational distress, diagnosis, infidelity.....
The storm is raging, the waves are crashing. The world is spinning. We are hanging on for dear life. Fear is the master of our emotions.
Life out of control.
The wind and waves go wild. All we can do is hang on. Stay in the boat.
Trust that the one who is holding the rope is paying attention here.
Getting scared when things get out of hand, that is normal. I am human and the fact of the matter is this…
I am not holding the rope. I don’t even want to.
Holding the rope inside the boat is futile. It just doesn’t work. In order for the anchor to hold – there must be something stronger, bigger, and heavier or Someone to whom to attach
I am glad I get to be a passenger. An active participator but not the Ultimate Controller. I am so thankful for the promise that when the wind kicks up and the waves start to crash.... there is ONE who love me very much... and HE is holding the rope.
Psalm 46.
46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
