Storm - or just a great day to be out on the water?

¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ I Timothy 6:12

This week has been a spiritual theme week for me. You know, one of those weeks in which God causes your local universe to conspire in such a way that circumstances, things you read, sermons you hear, songs you listen to all keep bringing that one thing to your mind. It started with a song on the radio; “No Longer Slaves” (of Fear) by Bethel Music. Then there was a blog posted by a friend of mine “Lord save us, we’re going to drown!”. Then in Philippians 3:10, “… and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”.

Slavery, fear, storms, suffering, death. Familiar adversaries of the authentic Christian. These are familiar adversaries that cannot withstand the assault of sustained prayer and immersion in the Word of God. These are familiar foes in the adventurous life of a blood-bought overcoming believer and disciple of Christ who lives in victory.

Spiritual maturity brings with it a familiarity with adversity and a capacity to endure hardship and setbacks with a meekness that astounds the world – and makes them wonder. That capacity to endure is grace. That meekness is humility of self and perfect trusting submission to the direction and commands of one’s Master. These confounding character traits draw others to their authentic source – Jesus Christ.

Why wouldn’t individuals who possess such character traits be tested over and over on the playing field of life before an audience who does not know God? Like well-trained, seasoned professional athletes we enter the arena day in and day out. Why wouldn’t we face challenge upon challenge to the glory of God? For what other purpose do we exist? A life of comfort in isolation? Called to the witness stand again and again. Expert witnesses for Christ. Expert wearers of the full armor and deft wielders of the Sword. We perform for an audience of one before a witness of multitudes to amplify the love, the Lordship and the power of Christ.

Several years ago I published a book titled, Fruition ~ Reflections on a life grafted-in © 2011. I want to share a portion of that book that goes with this theme (found in Chapter 6 beginning at page 79);  

“A tropical storm was strengthening as it thrashed its way up the coast threatening New England with hurricane force winds and damaging waves. At the last moment, pushed by a fast moving high pressure system charging down from Canada, the storm veered, safely, as they say out to sea. Safely, that is, for landlubbers. The only impact to New England seaboard would be enormous surf from the swells that radiated out from the storm’s center. People flocked to the seashore to watch one massive wave after another rise up, hang ever so briefly being pushed back by a stiff off-shore breeze, and then atomize on the rocky cliffs at Castle Hill or on the more distance outcroppings of Brenton Reef off of Newport, Rhode Island. Cars were parked along Ocean Drive facing “out” in drive-in theatre fashion. Spectators, eyes wide with amazement, ooooh’d and ahhhh’d at the spectacle from the safety of their cars, the park benches or the cement retaining walls that ran fortress-like along the entire length of the drive. Visions of the destructive force wafted through the minds of the spectators as they shuddered at the thought of being out in “that”. Images of shipwrecks and broken bodies and impossible rescue attempts by superhuman Coastguardsmen were conjured.

Then, out of the right peripheral field of view appears a glint of something. In the crazy twinkling sunlight one has to squint to see a lone windsurfer darting along a line of breakers, balancing wind and wave to beat a path across the stage. One by one the spectators spy the defiant marauder as he creeps from right to left swerving, negotiating the rising and falling breaking waves one by one. Then his progress slows, his sail luffs ever so slightly and there is a jerk on the mast and he begins to execute a turn. But something goes wrong. The sail wobbles and topples backward and there is a barely perceptible splash. A collective “oooooh!” rises from the crowd. For a moment the defiance of the intruder seems to be reaping its just reward. The small sail lies flat on the surface like some disconnected insect wing, rising on the face of a wave and then disappearing in the trough. Someone runs toward the edge of the breakwater as if there is something he can do. Most are silent – watching. Then, suddenly the sail bubbles to life and rises out of the foam dragging its rider with it. There is a cheer. Someone claps. The wave rider shakes off water and settles down onto a determined tack as he drifts from left to right and out of view. Someone says something about being crazy. Many shake their heads. Most of the crowd settles back into their mesmerized gaze. Some seem to snap out of a trance and abruptly leave…        

What strikes one about that recounting are the relative perspectives of the spectators and the wind surfer. To one the waves are terrible and destructive. To the other the waves are a ride to be harnessed – a rush – a thrill to be had. Fear or thrill? Do doubt, the wind surfers first ride on a stormy day involved facing fear, taking a risk and participating in a casual adventure that required that he have what it takes. Over time and with experience the fear transforms into thrill.

Perspective is very important. Viewed in its entirety a hurricane can be an overwhelming, fearful system of chaotic and destructive forces. It can also be admired with awe. At a more narrowly focused level, a foul weather day on the water may be seen as a strong wind creating large waves that behave a certain way. The windsurfer, focused in the moment is not taking in the immensity of the storm, he’s reckoning with the wave he’s riding and the wind gust on his sail. Through experience his senses pick up and interpret the forces directly affecting him and he makes adjustments. With practice and experience this sensing and responding becomes automatic and the wind surfer can take his eyes off of every wave encountered and focus on the exhilaration of the moment and the anticipation of continued exhilaration as the adventure unfolds before him.

Not everyone in that crowd is a fearful voyeur. Many assembled were probably delighting in the powers of creation on display and those who abruptly left may have been heading home to get their own windsurfing gear - inspired by the one who ventured out alone.

The eternal security of a Christian underpinned by the prolific promises of God to His children throughout the Bible should imbue the believer with a keen sense of overcoming capacity that makes every encounter with conflict and every challenge an adventure. Has not the battle already been won? Why are we instructed to don our spiritual armor in order to “stand firm”. The outcome has been assured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The kingdom will be restored. Our daily battles are defensive actions against an enemy who knows he is defeated. Do we know it? Carpe diem, seize the day, is a battle cry of confidence in the outcome.”

See you in the arena!

Blessings.

Bill

Fruition ~ Reflections on a life grafted-in is available here at: Amazon.com and also at Barnes & Noble in hard/soft cover and in digital Kindle/Nook formats.

5 Stars.