Baywatch

A friend of mine who lives in Florida told me recently that it is beach season. I live at 8300 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rockies, and it was snowing as I began to write this post on Easter Sunday. So that got me wistfully thinking about beach season too.

While pondering beautiful beaches, it came to me, I’m a lifeguard, just like cast on the most watched TV show, Baywatch. And like the cast in that show, I look great in a swimsuit…when I was 19! Now, not so much.

Emotionally, these are difficult times we are living through. (Notice I said through, meaning we will get through it!) In a previous post I mentioned there are some people lashing out in fear and panic. Right now, deep down, it might feel that they are drowning in that fear and their lashing out might actually be their attempt to reach out their hand for help. Or possibly reaching out to grab onto to some kind of control over what is going on.

An actively drowning person is frightened and they will do whatever they can to try and save themselves. There is no reason in their actions, only the will to survive. They lash out and try to grab anything to keep them afloat. A drowning person is desperate and will push down on whoever is attempting a rescue. It is an automatic and instinctive response. They are so panicked, they aren’t even aware they are doing it.

That’s why now more than ever, we need to reach out. People are desperate for hope and answers, and Jesus has both.

Most everyone knows of Jesus walking on water. “But the disciples, who were now in the middle of the lake, ran into trouble, for their boat was tossed about by high winds and heavy seas. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, ‘A ghost!’ Then Jesus said, ‘Be brave and don’t be afraid, I am here!’ Peter shouted out, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!’ “Come and join me,’ Jesus said. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!’ he cried out. Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up…” (Matt. 14:24-31a [TPT])

So I guess that makes Jesus a lifeguard too!

I know He saved me from drowning when I was 19 and asked Him into my heart. (I guess 19 was a good year for me. I looked good in a bathing suit, but better yet, my soul was saved!) Even now there are times I know He is reaching out when it feels like I am drowning in fear or uncertainty. The closer I cling to Him, the quieter my spirit becomes. So due to COVID-19, it really is time to swim out into the water, rock those swimsuits, and start saving people with hope. Yes, I said swim, because only Jesus can walk out onto the water. Well, no that’s not true, because Peter did too, even if it was only for a few steps.

© 2020 Fluffy Puppy Publishing All Rights Reserved