(a story about conquering the fear of the unknown with the trust of the KNOWN)

She stood on the shore, digging her toes deeply into the sand she was standing on.  She could feel the shifting that was taking place under her feet as the water came over her toes.  If the water could change even the ground she felt safe on, what could it do to her?

She looked out at the ocean.  There stood all the others, playing and laughing, soaking wet and loving it.  And there in the middle of all of them was her father.  The picture of strength.  Her picture of strength.  The water, in all of its massiveness didn’t seem to scare him a bit.  He was smiling and splashing with the others who had decided to join him out there.  You could tell just by looking at all of them that she was missing something by just watching from the shore.

Swimming lessons were in pools.  Contained places with edges that she could reach out and grab if she needed to.  This was different.  The ocean looked wild and very UN-contained.  Deeper and bigger than any pool she would ever take a lesson in.  And there were stories of creatures underneath the surface of this great expanse of water.  Creatures that could harm or even kill her.  The shore was so much safer.

Still, she looked out at her father swinging laughing children around, jumping with them as waves approached, lifting the little ones so they wouldn’t swallow too much salty ocean water. She felt a tinge of jealousy and regret as he waved for her to come out and join them.  She could be out there playing, too.  If only she wasn’t so afraid.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her father.  She knew that he would hold her hand and use his strength to keep her safe. She knew that his love would fight for her no matter what.  No, it was the water she didn’t trust with its waves and creatures and lack of edges. There was too much unknown about the ocean.  What if it was too big and threatening for even her father to take on?

Suddenly, her father was fighting the weight of the water, making his way toward the shore.  In his arms was a small child, limp and lifeless.  The water had pulled him down and overtaken him, filling his lungs and making them incompatible with life.  THIS is why she was afraid of the ocean.  THIS was her greatest fear.

Her father laid the boy on the dry sand and began resuscitative measures.  Breathing his life into him.  Putting his hands on his chest to press a beat back into his still heart.  Time seemed to stand still.  She looked on in horror, realizing that could have been her.  THIS is what happens when you go out into the wild waters.  THIS is why you play it safe.

And then the sound of retching, sputtering.  Awful sounds that meant the lungs were pushing out the water.  Huge gasping sounds that meant they were trading the water for air.  These painful sounds were the sounds of LIFE.  And her father, who never left the boys side, who never took his hands off of him, now held his little coughing body close to his heart.  The tears in her father’s eyes told of the joy that filled his heart.  Life had conquered death.  He had battled the sea and won.

For the first time, she realized something.  Her fear of the sea is what was holding her back.  The fear of what COULD happen.  What COULD be out there.  The unknown had become paralyzing to her.  But she saw her father’s love and strength and what it WOULD do in the worst of circumstances.  She could trust what WAS out there, or rather WHO was out there.  He WOULD hold her and jump the waves with her.  And if she fell and the water overtook her, he WOULD rescue her and bring her back to life.

It all came down to what was bigger.  Fear or trust?  Would she hang on to the COULDS of Fear or the WOULDS of trust in a father who would never let her down?

The little boy, now breathing and smiling again, was perched up on her father’s shoulders, heading back into the ocean, almost unafraid.  Her father looked back at her and winked.  He held out his hand once again for her to come out with him.  For the first time that day, her clinched toes in the sand took a step deeper into the water.  She put her tiny shaking hand in his.  The shivering cold of the ocean water seemed to disappear with the warmth of his big, strong, able hand.  When he looked down and smiled at her she knew she had made the right choice.  No matter what she didn’t know about this water, no matter how scary it looked or felt or sounded, he would be right there.  And she found herself smiling right back…

Isaiah 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Matthew 14:24-35 – Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”