At a recent conference with my company, there was an opportunity to take an afternoon boat tour. In the heat of June, this sounded like a great idea! A chance to soak up some sun, go swimming off the boat, and see some beautiful waterfalls ~ all for the convenient price of 20 TL! So about thirty of us signed up, took a bus ride and a walk out to the pier and climbed onto a rickety two-level boat. Well, the first twenty minutes were great! I sat on the top deck, holding onto the rail and laughing with the rest of the group as the boat got started and we swayed with the waves. The afternoon was pretty windy and our lightweight boat tossed and turned with every wave. After about twenty minutes, the amusement wore off. The waves were fairly big and in order to follow our intended path around the coastline, we were going to be sailing right into the waves the whole time. The joking and laughing slowly quieted as everyone started to get seasick and then focused on holding onto railings and not losing their lunches.
I really wasn't feeling good and was starting to contemplate what my options were if I got sick... ugh. I moved from the top deck down towards the front of the boat where there was some open space with cushions for sitting on. At this point I gave up on maintaining my dignity and just laid down on the cushions. I was facing the unlucky combination of being really tired from a busy conference week and being seasick! So I just laid down and spent the next hour and a half dozing off and trying to keep my eyes above the water while still holding onto a rail so I wouldn't roll away! We briefly stopped by some fantastic waterfalls, skipped the swimming part of the tour, and headed back to dock. All 30 of us stumbled out of the boat and slowly recovered our good humor and ability to walk on land. Then the joking started. We paid 20 TL to get seasick, sunburnt, and sweaty! Maybe this was a test from our leaders meant to build our team unity! We should have used the money to go to a nice restaurant on the coastline and look at the water instead of being on it! Needless to say, none of us will be signing up for another boat tour anytime soon!
So why do I share this story with ya'll? Well for one, it's pretty funny in hindsight. But mainly because God used this as a way to teach me! The next morning of the conference, we sang "Oceans" by Hillsong United during our worship time. I've known and liked this song for awhile. It's got great imagery and metaphors for our walk with Christ. Also I've always loved the water. Maybe because swimming feels like what I imagine flying to feel like, or maybe because people always associate me with the mermaid, I've always had this idea that I can handle the water. I can swim well and I love being in the water so I've never been afraid of the water. Well, going on that boat tour taught me to a have a little more of a healthy respect for big waters. That flimsy boat rolling with every wave reminded me that I'm not stronger than the water.
So, singing Oceans that morning suddenly had much more meaning to it. "You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail." Now I could picture how big and vast the waters can be and how they really could swallow me whole. My life lies before me as the great unknown, if I choose to follow where God leads, that great unknown is deep waters where my feet alone most definitely will fail.
"And there I find You in the mystery. In oceans deep my faith will stand." Now I could picture how in the midst of the mighty ocean, where I would be floundering, God finds me and gives me the strength to overcome the waves.
"And I will call upon Your name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace for I am Yours and You are mine." When I was lying in the boat, holding onto the railing and falling asleep on the cushions, all I would see between dozing off was the front of the boat rising and falling with the waves. It would make me sick and then I would remind myself to look higher, above the waves. So in life, we have to remember to look above the mess and keep our eyes on God. And He really will give us rest in His presence! Just like I fell asleep despite the motion of the boat, when we dwell with God, He gives us peace in spite of the circumstances.
"Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You've never failed and You won't start now." What a beautiful description of how God is always with us through the hardest parts of life. Often He leads us right into the hardest parts of our lives - but for our benefit! That's where we grow!
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior." Let this be our prayer!