Walking on Water

Floundering in the water
I have stepped out of the boat
but my feet have found
no purchase
The waves rise
try to swallow me
Arms, feet flailing; all of my being struggles
to keep my head above
I cry out
the storm abates
I see you
Standing, still, reaching for me
Wind in your hair
waters lapping at your feet
My fingers touch yours
I stop fighting
my feet find solid ground



I love the story of Peter daring to walk on the water. With little understanding of faith as a child I remember thinking if I only believed hard enough I could walk across the Waterton swimming pool. And I did try. Summoned all the belief I had and stepped off the deck into the water. It didn't take me long to decide that maybe I had missed something. As I gained knowledge I tried to convince myself the story was just an allegory, a metaphor, but I couldn't. I needed to believe it was possible to walk on the water.

I can't walk on water yet, but I do understand now the point of the story was that as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, on the One who called him to dare to step out of the boat, away from the familiar, away from safety he was able to to the impossible. It was when he looked away, saw the waves and recognized just how ludicrous his actions were that he began to sink. So it is with me. As long as my eyes are fixed on where I am going I am able to believe, to accomplish anything. It is when I look away, when I see my circumstances, when I hear the taunting, doubting voices in the wind that I begin to flail.

All of us have dreams & desires that may seem impossible. Looking at our circumstances may underline the improbability of it all. But I'm going to keep stepping out of the safe and familiar boat and trying to navigate the waves.