Thursday, March 10, 2011

Just Get Out of the Boat!

Last night, during our dinner conversation with a couple and their friends, the subject of flooding in Glasgow came up.  The couple, who live just outside of town, are not within the dyke that surrounds most of the town.  Luckily, at least where we are located, based on the 1939 flood that hit Glasgow, our residence should be fine - that is, I guess, if the waters do not breach the dyke.  If that occurs, well then we are going to be trading in our 2010 Chevy Colorado for a boat.  The predictions for flooding are not so much pointing towards if its going to happen, but more of when and to what degree.  The photo above is flooding in Glasgow back in 1952.

The possibility of flooding here appears to be a normal occurrence every other decade, so its not totally uncommon.  The town seems to be watching and waiting for how the weather will turn out, ultimately that will predict the amount of flooding that will be experienced.  To slow down the effects it the weather would need to warm up in the day and reach below freezing at night, thus slowly inching away at the 100 inches of snow that Glasgow and the surrounding areas have received, rather then just having it melt all at once, leading to flooding.  There seems to be a slight stir around town about it and rightfully so - its better to be over prepared rather then under prepared. 

As our dinner went on, it came time for us to share our message from the scriptures and I decided that now would be a good time recount to them the lesson we learn from Matthew 14:22-33, when Christ's disciples were out in the midst of a raging sea.

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

Christ's disciples were afraid, for they recognized not the source of who was coming unto them.  Peter, wanting to confirm that it was indeed the Master's voice of whom had spoken unto him called out, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." 

Christ, answering, "said,'Come'. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.  Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God".

The issue of flooding and the ability to walk on water seems right not to be a very desirable trait.  A comment made last night to the gentleman we were eating with by his friend was, "Well, it looks like we're are both going to have to get a lot of faith, and get it quick!".  The comment gave us all a good laugh and, more importantly, it tied into a deeper lesson of how we obtain that faith.  Though Peter may have doubted when he asked "if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" and then, while on the water, had his faith falter when he began to sink, there is more to that experience then just learning of Peter's doubt.  Of all the other disciples in the boat who else, aside from Peter, dared to get out?  The most cautious of them all decided to take the biggest risk and leave the boat that offered protection and safety from the sea and place himself amongst the raging sea and winds.

If he doubted so much, why did he get out of the boat?  The Savior clearly spoke unto them saying "be of good cheer; it is I".  Even after hearing the Messiah's voice, one who had just previously performed a miracle as he fed the 5,000 from five loaves and two fishes, he wanted further proof to know that it was Him, his Lord and Redeemer.  Through it all for Peter to know that it was indeed Jesus Christ walking on the water to meet them, he had to first get out of the boat.  Likewise, for us to know that He will save us when we fall and know with a surety that He is the Son of God, we have to get out of our own boat, to go and meet Him.  The cargo contained within our boat are often crates of doubt, confusion, unwillingness, and complacency that lure us into a thinking that all is well, we do not need to leave our place of comfort for He will surely come to us because of His love. 

When this thinking enters into our minds, we must also recall the Savior's words in the which he declared, "if you love me, keep my commandments".  Expressing our love for Jesus Christ cannot be completed through just a passive phrase, it requires action.  Should we sit idly by, waiting for him to come unto us as we sit in our boats, I think we will find that our wait will last an eternity.  And, I think we will find that He already had come unto us but we received Him not because we knew Him not. 
Hear his call today and get out of the boat and know that He lives!

(Unless your town is about to be flooded, then you should wait a little bit).

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