Wet Shoes

When was the last time I allowed my shoes to get wet? That was the question that came to mind when I was thinking about faith earlier today. When Christ came walking on the water and he called Peter out of the boat, I wonder what Peter thought and felt. Here he was, in the safety of the boat, able to travel from one shoreline to the next in the comfort of familiarity. And along comes his friend, his companion, his Lord, asking him to purposefully step out of the safety of the boat and to do the seemingly impossible - to first stand, and then to walk on the choppy Gallilean Sea.

I've often wondered what the other disciples thought of all this as it was happening, and as they reflected back on that night. Did they regret not stepping out as well? After all, Peter would have the experience of walking on water, but they would just have the memory of watching it all unfold before them. And I wonder if some of them were more like me, so afraid of the water that they would sacrifice the experience for the safety of the familiar.

Peter grew from the experience while the boat-dwellers stayed the same. I wonder if it's impossible for faith to remain in the familiar? To me familiarity implies lack of change and a faith that doesn't change doesn't grow. Those who stayed in the security of their surroundings were unable to draw closer to Christ. For, in order to do so, they would have had to follow Peter, step out in faith and walk with him towards Christ. And even though Peter stumbled and began to sink, his faith moved him close enough to Christ that all Jesus had to do was reach out his hand and pull Peter out of the water.

It has been awhile since I've stepped out of the boat and got my shoes wet. But it looks like I'm in the process of doing that now. It takes a lot of courage and it takes a lot of faith in Christ knowing that he's there watching and ready to pull me back up if I begin to sink. Am I afraid of the water? Absolutely. But now I'm more afraid of the familiarity that stifles and suffocates a faith that was once so alive. I'm tired of watching others step out of their boats, unafraid of having wet shoes and walking on the water. I wish no longer to sit in comfort and idly watch as others experience their own water-walking miracle. I wish to put my faith in action and step out as well.

So, here I go...
on the count of three...
One...Two...Three...Splash...Whoa, what do you know? I'm standing!

So, when was the last time you had wet shoes?