As I sat on the beach over 4th of July weekend, I was watching a young boy. he stood on the edge of the ocean getting his feet and ankles wet, watching the waves. But not only was he watching the waves come, he was directing the tide. As he would see a wave begin to form, he would plant his feet wide apart but firmly on the sand crouched - ready for battle. he would stretch one arm firmly towards the wave pointing at it with an authoritative air. his other arm was behind him bent upward - almost as if about to throw an invisible javelin. as the crest would form on the wave, he would move his outstretched finger pointed arm towards the beach, in a gesture that was "waving" the wave in towards the shore. finally he would end with his finger pointed in the direction of the beach. It was eminently clear that he was commanding the tide - or at least he thought he was!
As I chuckled to myself, it struck me how very like that little boy I can be. I try so hard to direct my life. Even in my efforts to be obedient, I want to be able to somehow control how that obedience will look or turn out. Essentially, "Yes God - I can get behind this plan of yours if I can do it this way - or still have this - or, or, etc. etc." I will follow you if you make everything turn out in a way that I think is 'good'.
When I looked back over, the boy had tired of that game - because as you know, commanding the tide is exhausting work! Now, instead, he was laughing and splashing around; sometimes jumping over the waves; sometimes allowing them to splash against his legs. The waves still came, without his guidance.
Waves, as rough as they may seem at times, are always under the control of my Heavenly Father. If I recognize that they will always be there, I wonder how much more laughter and joy I would experience if I learned to play in the waves of my life and let Him control the tide.
You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. ~Psalm 89:9
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