Why Dive?

Isn't diving an incredible feeling? I think of the days when I first learned to dive. Don't you remember smacking your face on the water? Or, crippling with fear right before you went in only to cause you to to a belly flop or some other quirky move? After some practice, you got your head tucked and your arms nicely pointed and leading the way in. I remember how the cold water would always shock my senses and then, I was completely caught up in something other than myself -- surrounded by water. I have always found the water to be a freeing place.

I was on the swim team for years. I can still see the morning sun reflecting on the bottom of the city pool (Which is now torn down. Does that mean I'm getting old?). It totally captivated my attention. I can still imagine watching the wake my hands would make when gliding during breast stroke. And, doing "aquaman" (swimming like a dolphin underwater) to help get the rhythm of butterfly and build endurance... that was the highlight of practice! I still love doing that.

When I'm under the water, I'm in another world. A world where I am not in control of anything around me. I've grown to love rivers and oceans even more than pools. Have you ever swam against the current? We can't make it too far can we? Ya know, in a strong current we can swim as hard as we can and not even move. What about out in the ocean? Have you ever gotten way out there then, get a little freaked out to be carried up the coast a ways? And, fighting it gets you no where. Water is powerful. To be carried by a force that is so much greater than me, a force I can not change, is freeing!

What about when you're at the river or the ocean and you put your goggles on. There's so much more going on underneath that we would never see if we didn't look! I remember seeing a little jellyfish float right under me. Have you seen a school of those small shiny silver fish cutting back and forth following the current? And, one time I found a bed of sand dollars. How could I forget the sunglasses and five dollar bill at the river! Needless to say, every time I put goggles on and look underneath, I see something cool that I would never see from above the water.

I believe everything in life is a parallel, in some way, to our relationship with God. I can think I'm in control but, I really am not. He is. And when I let go, I'm free! Then, when I stop to look deeper at what's going on, I find treasures everywhere.

Just think, none of it happens without the dive. God is good!

Thanks for reading. You're invited back anytime to read some stories and perspective from my life.