“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” Matthew 14: 28-31

Let me start by saying, I AM NOT A WATER PERSON!  Oh sure, I can splash around and enjoy the coolness of it on a hot day, but, I’m the kind who needs to be able to touch the bottom at any given moment, stand up, and have the entire upper half of my body above the surface.  So, when I read these verses over the years, I thought, good for you Peter, but you’ll never see me attempting that walk!

Then I read a wonderful book by John Ortberg, “If you Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat”.  REALLY?!?!?   Get. Out. Of. The. Boat.  Okay, I’ll get out!  When I did, Jesus reached out, took my hand and He’s been holding it ever since.  And, I discovered, it really isn’t about the WATER.

He was holding my hand:

- in Jamaica, encouraging me to add a brother to my family.  Patrick was abandoned as a baby because he was born with no feet or hands, due to a medication his mother had taken to assist her with morning sickness. This new member speaks Jamaican patois.  Yah mon!

- after Hurricane Katrina called me to the Gulf Coast time and again, to help with rebuilding.  My new family members have a southern accent, y’all!

-when I traveled that journey that no woman wants to travel – breast cancer - and He added more members to my family who all too well knew that cancer lingo.  And my Bethel family -  my heart swelled with their love and support.

-in Tanzania where I met a new church family and gained sons and daughters who speak Swahili.  Bwana asifiwe!

- when He lead me to Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota.  Another culture and new family members who speak Lakota.

I think He was tipping the boat, giving me a gentle “push”, and saying, “Just wait and see what I can do” when I proclaimed these words on a beach in Jamaica, “I WILL NEVER GO TO HAITI!  It’s not safe there and I don’t speak the language (French and Haitian Creole)”.  Aah, Haiti - the “pearl of the Caribbean”.  Wow, did He take my hand!  This summer will be my fifth trip to Haiti since that devastating earthquake in 2010.  More family.  Fè lwanj Seyè a!  I can hear God clapping and laughing!

So now do you see?  It’s not about the WATER.  It’s about getting down out of the boat and letting Jesus reach out and catch you with His outstretched hand.  And, oh, believe me, HE WILL!

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for helping us get out of our boats.  Give us courage in those “walk on water moments” and strengthen our faith with the assurance that You will immediately be there, reaching out with Your hand to lead and guide us.   In Jesus’ name. Amen.