Faith
Local Bonny Hills Surf Lifesavers practice their Surfboat skills.“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14 : 28 - 30
The second step in the 12 step program of AA states
“We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
“We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
Surrendering our faith does not happen instantly as Peter found out, in the above quote. It is a long, long journey. It is an extensive walk, a walk in Trust, a gradual letting go, unlearning our old ways of dealing with our addictions to fears - it is a handing over unconditionally to the new. No one does it on the first or even second attempt. Desire and longing must be deepened and broadened otherwise we soon sink as peter did and all we can do is cry out to be saved and start the walk all over again. Like the crew in this boat above we must tend to the rowing and leave the steering and direction of our energy to the person on the helm to bring us safely to the beach through the gigantic surf - otherwise we are all at sea.
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This is so true, so often we say " help me Lord" but when he shows us the way we are too afraid to do it or reluctant. We have to go totally blind by faith and by the word. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, Keith.
Thank you Marianne - it is such a long journey, perhaps one that never finishes, but each step strengthens and accelerates our faith so that eventually we never want to return to the old ways whether as a redeemed ChrIsitian or a reformed alcoholic. Thank you for reading and commenting - very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFaith Keith is such a under rated word in this society but we must all keep our Faith. Those life savers are brave and surely they do keep Faith to be able to perform their duties in what can be a very hazardous sea.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post and especially great photo.
wonderful write and pic keith :) Positive energy does so very much :)
ReplyDeleteThe waves are nice to watch, but I wouldn't want to be in that sea !
ReplyDeleteThank you Milli - happy you like the photo and of course the post. Faith is not something we are given it is something gained through practice, experience and hindsight and for sure with it lifesavers make perfect choices navigating treacherous seas.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cinna!! Yes so very true - positive energy is for sure one of the fruits of faith. I am sure you have a lot of faith in so many things from your bike to the organisers and planners of events you enter - all I see in your blogs about then is positiveness! :)
ReplyDeletehiya Howard thanks for commenting. Believe me the seas can get much bigger than this - it amazes me how brave these guys really are!
ReplyDeleteI think it's all about knowing what love is: 2 Corintians 3, 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot Keith, love how you captured the wave-action.
ReplyDeletehiya Mitch - The sea does all the work and I just press the button! But the sea does have it's moods and often it is something happening on or in the sea that aamplifies the mood like the surf rescue boat does here. Thanks for your comment
ReplyDeleteHi Amalie - thank you for your comment - you have me pouring over Corr 2 now - man that paul complicates things at times with his words hahaha!! Will dwell on these beautiful words a little while.
ReplyDeleteBravo Keith....
ReplyDeleteGreat shot Keith.
ReplyDeleteoh good! that was also my intention :)
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