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?
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?
posted by Shawn White | 6/07/2005 11:29:00 PM
7 Comments:
wow. i was browsing blogs and read your most recent post. wet shoes. this really touched me.
I'm glad that you liked it. Was there anything specifically that you identified with?
yeah. there have been a lot of times where i have been afraid to jump out of a boat and walk on water. I think about this a lot when I'm trying something new for the first time. thank you!
You have portrayed the fault-line between "walking by faith" versus "walking by sight" very well. I have been encouraging an agnostic friend who has been at the edge of the boat but unwilling to step out onto the water.
These lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman illustrate your comments very well:
The long awaited rains
Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground
And carved their way to where
The wild and rushing river can be found
And like the rains
I have been carried here to where the river flows yeah
My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
That’s telling me it’s time to take the leap of faith
So here I go
I’m diving in I’m going deep in over my head I want to be
Caught in the rush lost in the flow in over my head I want to go
The river’s deep the river’s wide the river’s water is alive
So sink or swim I’m diving in
There is a supernatural power
In this mighty river’s flow
It can bring the dead to life
And it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing
Worth living and worth dying for yeah
But we will never know the awesome power
Of the grace of god
Until we let ourselves get swept away
Into this holy flood
So if you’ll take my hand
We’ll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on let’s go
p.s.l. - You are welcome. Just remember that the difference between someone who has courage verses someone who lacks courage is how they choose to react to fear. Both experience the same fear, but one engages while the other retreats.
Ron - I'll pray for your agnostic friend and for you as you minister to him/her. Faith is action - it's doing something. What I mean is this - the path to biblical faith (as best as I can tell, and I could be mistaken on this, but I don't think I am) is evidence that produces knowledge that leads to us putting our trust in someone. An illustration of that is this - let's say you want to fly from here to London. You know that flying is relatively safe because of all the studies and statistics put out by the FAA. However, faith isn't put into practice until you get on to the plane. Everything leading up to faith was just mental assent. Getting on the plane is another matter - you are know acting by putting trust in the knowledge you've gained based upon the objective evidence that has been presented. There are several biblical examples of this pattern as well - but with an agnostic friend, it might be better to start with what they are familiar with as an illustration. Marriage is another fine example of the same concept. You might believe in marriage - but until you walk down the aisle, you haven't put your trust (faith) in it.
Excellent post.
I found your blog via a very roundabout way, and it looks interesting.
p.s...
Go, Pack, go!!!
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