Reflections on the Water

The ocean.
The vast and open expanse of water. The deep sea that holds life below, some unknown, some familiar, yet all mysterious. The power of the swell and the energy of the waves. The tides that ebb and flow—a constant movement that somehow brings a sense of calm and peace. The back and forth, coming and going, bringing in and washing away.

The ocean is a beautiful picture and a visible depiction of our great God. Mysterious, vast, powerful, constant, never ceasing. His presence brings peace—peace that transcends our understanding. (Philippians 4:7) His love is expansive—covering as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) As our lives ebb and flow through good and bad, His grace brings forgiveness and freedom while it washes away the shame and regret that try to bind us. The motion of the ocean portrays a deep sense of well-being—that despite the unknown that may lie ahead, we have a good and mighty God that is in control of it all.

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The waves were big that day. I was fearful to get in the water. Even though my kids were already jumping the waves or diving under them, I was nervous. The strength of the water has always intimidated me. But with a few more pleads and begs, I made my way out to meet them. As I turned around to see the beach where I had been laying, my eyes moved upward. My gaze caught the majestic mountains that were the backdrop. The view that could only be seen from inside the water.  A different perspective, a beautiful sight that I could only visualize after getting over my fear and taking the steps into the water. Sometimes we can only see the bigger, beautiful picture when we step out in faith.

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We anchored the kayak in the middle of the Bay. We chose one of the many sandbars to drop our anchor in, got our snorkel gear on, and jumped in the water. We could stand there and felt secure. As we began swimming, the colors of the coral caught our eye. We kicked faster and suddenly, as clearly as we saw the sand, we saw a drop into a dark abyss. Like a cliff on the side of a mountain, the sandbar abruptly ended with a sheer plunge. The dark unknown lurked below, yet on the edge was life. Beautiful coral, colorful fish, schools that swam together, urchins that stayed put to guard their territory. And suddenly, right in front of us was a sea turtle, hovering over the coral, living life on the edge. We swam along the long edge and found another sea turtle and quietly suspended ourselves to watch intently. Life in another environment. A part of creation that lives under the surface. The beauty that lies below the shiny, sun-reflected veneer could only be admired by jumping in the water. Though the deep chasm was daunting, the unknown intimidating, focusing on the reality of the beauty in front of us allowed for an incredible experience.

May we keep our eyes focused on what’s true, what’s real and the beauty that surrounds us. Step out in faith, trusting that a faithful and loving God goes before you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)