In February of this year (2007), while on vacation in Maui, HI. I received a call mid week from my barely turned 22 year old son. There is never a good time for bad news, and this was not an exception. My son, TJ, was told that he very likely had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, and he was waiting for a needle biopsy to confirm. The fear that hit me at that moment in time was fierce and immediate. I could not control it. My husbands’ uncle had died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
A few days later, God reminded me of when we had been snorkeling at the start of our vacation, before the news of my son, when I had been gripped by a lesser fear, but a fear that has gripped me my whole life-my fear of deep water. I was the last one off the boat to snorkel that day, and as soon as I let go of the security of the boat, water started to leak into my mask, and I struggled to tighten it. Because I was struggling, and vertical in proportion to the surface of the water, I started to sink and flounder. My fear grew and all I could think about was getting back to my false sense of security- the boat. I went back to the boat, got a new mask and a flotation noodle which helped a bit. I cautiously when back in to the water and looked for the Greek god Poseidon (god ruler of the sea, AKA my husband Ron). A short time later, he submerged next to me and stated “Hey! If you dive down about 4 or 5 feet, you can hear the whales”! How cool would that be, to be able to hear the hundreds of whales who have migrated to the Maui area to bear their young, and are singing to one another. I wanted to experience that! So I took a deep breath- almost hyper-ventilated, and dove…..two feet and immediately re-submerged. I think I may have heard them, but I’m not sure! Darn!
Later in the week, after the call, we were at a different location, on a beach with a peninsular out crop that kept the surf down to enable a manageable snorkel entry area. I attempted another dive, this time I got down to about the four foot level, and sure enough, I heard the whales. I got to hear the whales! That will remain one of the coolest experiences of my life I think! Now that I found that I could dive, and not be afraid- I kept diving. I was able to swim along the sandy bottom and see the multitude of colorful fish that abide there.
At the end of the week, we attended the West Maui Calvary-Chapel church service on the beach. It was there that God (not the Greek one, but the true living one) revealed a parallel to my experience of fearing the water. If I allow this fear to grip me, I will flounder, drown and be swept away by it. I will literally drown in my fear. God has not given me-or you a spirit of fear. Perfect love in fact, casts out fear! He wants you and I to experience the wonders of his creation, and thus find him there. And that can be found in things that produce fear. In fact, wonders of wonders are found in those places.
Have you ever watched someone teach another person how to float in water? The teacher instructs the student to lie on their back, fill their lungs with air, and relax. The teacher is right there next to the student with hands just under the students back, helping them-just in case, until they can do it on their own. God is your instructor-so lay back, take a big breath of air, and relax in the comfort of knowing he is right there. Instead of drowning in fear- dive way down through fear…because God wants you to see and hear the many wonders that he has for you. Those wonders can result from ordinary events and circumstances, so wear a good non-leaky mask that will allow you to keep your eyes open. Diving into fear with out the proper eye protection will make your eyes hurt, and you wont be able to see what he wants you to see. And when you dive way down into fear-the pressure of the water on top of you can really make your ears hurt. So swallow hard to open your ear canals when the pressure of the water becomes greater than the pressure in your ears, so that you can hear all of what he is saying to you-clearly. Read his letter to us, the Bible, and pray fervently everyday to him. He's right there, holding you- till you can float on your own. Persevere! He wants you to hear the whales.
(Rom 8:15 NASB) “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
(1 John 4:18 NIV) "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love".
"The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone.
But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.
Hasn’t fear taken enough?
Enough smiles? Chuckles?
Restful nights, exuberant days?
Meet your fears with faith".
- by Max Lucado -
