Swimming Sideways

 

I got caught in an undertow in the 7th Grade. Our school took the 7th-12th graders on a fun outing to one of the most beautiful beaches of my childhood.

My best friend couldn't go, so I ventured out into the water alone. The water was so refreshing. I floated, looked up at the beautiful clouds and daydreamed about everything!

When it came time to swim back to shore, something caught my foot. I now understand why we need swimming buddies. I had never heard of an undertow. It was strong, pulling me out to sea fast. I paddled as hard as I could, flailing sometimes, but wasn't giving up. 

I then noticed something: The surface water was going into shore, and if I could stay on top and swim in, I knew I'd make it. 

But it wasn't so simple as the undertow was about two feet below me, so dipping just slightly into that current whisked me back out to sea.

I yelled for help, but the people behind me and the people on the beach didn't respond. All I wanted was to be on dry land with my friends, having a good time. 

Meanwhile, I rested from time to time by floating and enjoying the Windows 95 day.

The real ordeal lasted about 30 minutes, but it felt longer. Once I got to shore, it took what felt like another 30 minutes to find my group. Being nearsighted didn't help either. I know I was a sight to strangers peeking under umbrellas.

I don't think I was ever so happy as the moment I found my friends! I recall flopping down on the sand, exhausted. I believe I fell asleep for a long time as I looked like a boiled lobster that night. It took me a couple of days to heal and I missed school the following Monday.

But then I was as good as new! I thanked God for literally slowing my mind down enough to run a viable solution passed my panic.

You'd think I'd hate the beach, but it is one of my favorite places. I can't wait to get there, set up the umbrella and wade out into the water!

Maybe you are in a circumstantial undertow. Maybe it's been so long that you wonder if you ever were on dry land. You yell for help. No one comes. You try to describe what's going on. It seems unreal. No response. People do care, but may not understand what's going on. It's okay. 

As Dori in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

But yes, you were on dry land once. You basked in the sunshine and felt the wind on your face, and you will again. Get the rest you need. You've gone through something big, but it didn't get you down. 

Now you're ready to tell your story. If you try to tell it in the middle of the panic, it will come out wrong, backwards, upsidedown. But once you've rested, you will realize by God's loving grace you got through it and are stronger, kinder, more patient and a better listener. And now you can help others with the lessons you learned. In fact, you may find some humor in parts of your story given time.

I can still see the people jumping when I looked under the umbrellas. I jumped myself. In fact, I am so glad I happened to pick the right direction when I headed up the beach. Imagine if I had chosen the other direction? They might still be looking for me!

Someone told me later in life what to do if caught in an undertow:

Swim sideways.

It can be a handy life philosophy as well.

Swimming sideways can be whatever it takes to get you out of any life loop; it's healing, it's rescue, it's life-saving. If you try to swim into shore, you will exhaust yourself.

Just swim sideways...not forwards, not backwards, sideways as fast as you can and you'll be away from the current quicker than you can say "something's got my foot and I can't get out"!

But you can get out.

In these unprecedented times, I echo the words being said globally, We'll get through this. I don't say this idealistically, nor disrespectfully, but I truly believe we will.

We will hug again, kiss on the cheeks, high five, chest bump, feel the love, have dreams and build a better tomorrow.

In closing, I thank God for our emergency and medical workers, our leaders, entertainers who keep us laughing, and family and friends who comfort and keep us connected! What are you thankful for?

Three Tidbits for Today...

Jesus is more than a command-giver, a task-master.

He is the lover of our souls.

He asks that we return the emotion,

for if we don’t get the emotion right, we cannot participate in proper devotion.

And devotion is a better developer of talents than fear of failure.

(Matthew 25:14-30 / Luke 19:11-27)

Fear freezes, faith frees

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

- Galatians 5:1

 Guard your treasure in your jar of clay and it will keep you from going astray.

Today's post is dedicated to my father as today is his birthday! Happy birthday Dad!

Video: Mandisa's "You Wouldn't Cry for Me Today"

Wow!

Stirred not Shaken

For those who enjoy James Bond movies, the line "Stirred not shaken," is a famous quote. This is how Mr. Bond likes his martinis. I don't drink martinis and this has nothing to do with drinking. But I've been captured by the idea lately of being stirred spiritually but not shaken.

I put real whipped cream in my coffee each morning and recently have decided to not shake the can. This allows the cream to come out smoothly without the fuss that cream under pressure causes; it's messy and spews creamy bits everywhere, despite coming out of the can in a scrunched up artsy way on my coffee.

However, the last two cans I purchased had the same characteristic, and one I had not seen in previous cans of whipped cream. The cream got stuck without my shaking the can. I had to throw the first can away after a few days because no matter how much I shook it, the cream would not budge. It had not been shaken enough to stir the air and cream which would help the cream propel itself out of the can.

I decided the cream was much too tasty to let go to waste in this second uncooperative can. So I shook it just short of shaking my shoulder out of joint; and don't think I'm embellishing! I think my feet actually came off the floor at one point. Finally, a mixture of air and cream came out, yes, spewing bits of cream all over my hand as I tried covering the glass of iced coffee so as not to mess up the counter.

But it was worth it! The shaking of the can stirred the cream and air so that the cream could do its job! There was something of value in the can that needed to get out, and without the ingredients being stirred up, it would have been another waste on so many levels!

Stirring, what a concept! The Lord has designed us with many spiritual elements that He wants brought out in the pattern of His Son at the correct time so that He might be glorified! God stirs us through the fellowship of professed and obedient believers called disciples of Jesus Christ, with whom we have ongoing communion even when not in each others physical presence. This is our function, to be Christ in our minds so that when spiritually stirred, He is able to get out by means of the work of our hands and feet.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] the manner of some, but exhorting [one another], and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."- Hebrews 10:24

This world indeed loves shaking us up. The shaking will bring out what is inside us; is it Christ-like, or world-like? Whatever comes out is our answer, and with God's help, He can refine what is not of His everlasting Kingdom that is living in us. Why? Because God's Kingdom has come to those who follow Christ and God is refining us day by day as to prepare us to enter fully into His Kingdom which will never be shaken by sin.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God [is] a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:28-29

God's consuming fire refines us daily to conform more to the likeness of Christ. What are our minds feeding on? Are we judging when we should be praying? Are we consciously aware of Christ's return with anticipation as the first century followers were? Are we allowing God's Kingdom to rule every part of our minds and hearts as to prepare us for that last day? Are we secure in our salvation for today alone? Are we confident Christ will be our attorney on that last day defending perfectly what we've confessed to Him on this earth?

Are we being stirred in the Lord, patterning Christ's life, so as not to be shaken off of our foundation, which is Christ, when troubles come? My prayer is yes, because we can do all things through God's strength.

The Barometer and the Rudder

Feelings are barometers, not rudders. Facts are rudders. Both are needed to navigate life. Take a journey of mixed metaphors with me...

It is amazing how our personal barometers struggle with our much needed personal rudder for control of our lives. I believe the reason being that a barometer is exposed, and if the attention is not good, our barometers increase in pressure. If our external barometers are not guided by our internal rudder, the pressure keeps rising, possibly to explode under pressure.

The rudder, however, is under water. Who knows what it looks like and if it is strong enough to withstand the waters it is traveling. But the waters have a way of testing us and pressing against our internal rudder. The barometer pressure rises and because it is tethered to the rudder struggles to gain control.

Decisions are made, words are said, all never to be taken back except in apology to another and confession to God. How great is the news of forgiveness in Christ, that we have Him to turn to when others may not forgive us, or when forgiveness returned and trust restored may delay longer than expected?

To whom do you go when your barometer's pressure is high? How sturdy is your rudder to withstand the uncertain waters below? Our internal rudder can only be formed by one thing, the words of God. What does He say are the facts about the matter? And if the matter is not clear, what does he say about the barometer of my attitude towards the uncertain matter at hand?

When my internal rudder is steady, my barometer returns to normal. If I know nothing but God in flesh born, died and raised, seated at God's right hand, I will have the courage to withstand, for God promises it to be so.

"You will keep in perfect peace [barometer] all who trust in you, all whose thoughts [rudders] are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3