Going against the wind

Therefore, the disciples continue to push forward. As the waves get higher, and the wind move with increasing force they start to get nervous. What did this Jesus character expect from them? Sure many of them were fishermen, and had grown up rowing on this sea, but none of them had seen a gale quite like this.

Then they become a bit hesitant, even doubting why they were out here. Why could they not just turn around and head back? Jesus was still back on the shore. Then this realization hits them “how is he going to get on the other side?” They start to discuss things amongst themselves. “Did he really just feed all of those people?” Then doubt creeps in “maybe he wanted us to stay on the shore and wait for him.”

Yes, the disciples were rowing against the wind. They were struggling against the current. They were going against the grain. And it was hard. If it was hard to fulfill God’s purpose then, why do we expect it to be any different? I will never promise anyone that the center of God’s will is the easiest, or even the safest place to be, but I will ALWAYS promise that it is the best place.

When I think of going against the grain, I think of my little sister Heather. Heather is two years younger, and a foot and a quarter shorter than I am. However, what she lacks in age or size, she makes up in pure determination. You see Heather was born with Down’s syndrome, and she had to fight for whatever she accomplished. If I had half of the drive or will of my sister, I would have been the best athlete my town had ever seen, and probably have been the valedictorian of my class. She graduated High School taking normal classes, and then graduated from a vocational school, focused in childcare. She knows what rowing against the wind is all about.

At a Junior High camp I was a counselor at, someone came up with the brilliant idea to take 210 junior high kids canoeing. Then another genius decided to put me in charge of the safety of these students. I and another counselor were to stay in the back of the pack and make sure each camper made it safely to the end of the creek. Heather got the easy job. She sat in the middle of the canoe, took of her shoes, and let her feet drag in the water.

Everything was going swimmingly until I looked up and saw a stalled canoe, inhabited by two very blonde, much uncoordinated, junior high girls. To clarify I am not trying to be mean, I am only stating the facts. If anyone has ever attended, or bless your heart, coached a junior high girl’s basketball game, you understand what I mean. They trip over the foul line, stop to tie their shoes in the middle of a drive, throw passes into the stands, and throw up hideous, borderline sinful, shots. It is not their fault, I know, their coordination has yet to catch up with their bodies, however, it is what it is.
As I stated before these particular girls were stalled in their canoe. It was stuck upon a large rock, and despite their best attempts, it was not moving. They had finally resorted to standing in the canoe, and trying to push off the rock at the same time. Now anyone who has taken High School science (which these girls obviously had not) is aware of Newton’s laws of physics. One of these goes something like this: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So the girls pushed, the canoe tipped, and both were flung into the water.

Now I was not thrilled with this particular action, because I knew I was responsible for the well-being of these now very wet students. I did not want to jump in. The water was cold, and I had jeans on. If anyone has ever had on wet jeans, you understand why I was not eager to take the plunge. As I was contemplating my plan of action, the other counselor had already dived in, and was swimming towards the girls. Now I was not only going to be wet, but I was going to be wet and look like a jerk. I took of my shoes and socks, and jumped in.

As I reached the girl, I realized she had herself in quite the predicament. While she had a life jacket on, it was not serving her very well. You see she was reaching for each of her shoes, which were floating in opposite direction, and as she was reaching, her head was being pushed down into the water. THIS GIRL WAS GOING TO DROWN WITH A LIFE JACKET ON! I immediately grabbed the shoes, since they were apparently more important than life to her, and then proceeded to help her back to the shore.
At this point, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Pin an S on my chest and call me super counselor I thought. I wanted to be able to share my victory with someone so I turned to where I had left heather and the canoe with a huge smile on my face. That smile was quickly replaced with a look of distress because neither Heather nor the canoe was there. I had apparently forgotten some of my High School science classes as well, because the current had taken heather straight towards the rapids. As I looked up I saw her standing on the back part of the boat, paddle in hand screaming “BUUUBBBBYYYYYYY, WHEN I GET HOOOOMMMMEEEEEE, I’M TELLING MOOOOOOOMMMMM.”

Heather knows what it is like to swim against the current. She knows what it is like paddle against the waves. She knows what it is like to go against the grain. As Christians, we have to realize that we are going against the grain. The world is going to hate us. The Devil is going to fight us. Things are not going to be easy. To be stripped of the selfish worldly mindset, and to embody a Christ-like one, is hard. It takes work, and it takes the realization that we are going against everything the world is for. To accomplish the goal that Christ has set for us, we must be willing to paddle against the wind. I will never promise anyone that the center of God’s will is the easiest, or even the safest place to be, but I will ALWAYS promise that it is the best place.