Learning to Float

I still remember the way the water held me in its arms.
I let my body sway and drift with such lightness.
A smile flickered across my young face, blonde curls dancing in the chlorine like tiny ballerinas gracing the dance floor for the very first time.
My eyes half opened.
Above me was my father; full beard and big grin.

"I'm floating daddy!"
"Pretty easy huh kid?"

My fathers guiding hands lingered shortly, making sure my 40 lb body was ready to weather the leap alone.

I floated with such ease.
After flapping, flopping and carrying on in the populated pool my father had me close my eyes and relax onto his arms.
"Just relax. I've got you."

Floating seemed so much better than swimming to me.
As all the other children were diving, dunking and chunking one another into the blue water I was floating.
I was at complete confidence and rest.

As I have grown older I have forgotten how to float.
I have forgotten how to lean back in rest onto the arms of my Father.
His hand is guiding me.
He won't drop me.
He keeps trying to get me to relax.
To float.

Being an adult makes it difficult to re-learn to float again.
What about the bills?
What about the kids' practices, homework, etc?
What about my broken relationships?
What about my loneliness?
What about my pain that I can't seem to fix?
What about all these plans I have already made for myself?

Just float.

Easier said than done, I know. But Jesus is many things, among these things is rest.
Rest in His guiding hand.
Rest in His voice whispering over your limp body, "I've got you. Relax."

I would rather float, eyes closed and unaware of where I may end up than swim tirelessly in a lap pool back and forth.
How exhausting to see where I am going, only to see I am going really nowhere.

Sometimes God asks us to close our eyes, relax, float and trust He is guiding us to more open waters.

That day in the pool I trusted my daddy because he was bigger than I was.
He knew much more about the water than me.
He knew how to float when I did not.

Believe it or not Jesus knows more about the waters you are in more than you do.
He knows a lot about how to hold your floating body.

Stop gasping for breath in a lap pool.
Stop waving your arms about, splashing every which way.

Stop choosing to swim nowhere with your eyes open over floating to open waters with your eyes closed.

Just float.

"See kid. It's easy."

Matthew 11:28-30 -

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."