"Leap of Faith and into His Will" by Mary LaFrance

Just thinking about all the summer days of my youth that I spent swimming in the Washougal River, LaCamas Lake, Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. Each body of water has its own unique smell, current, vision, width and depth.

I remember the first time I swam across the Washougal River. I was only 6 years old. My sister had taken me to the river and was in charge. Some of her friends were there and asked her to float down the rapids on inner tubes. I begged to go along, but she told me I was to small. I was told to sit on the bank in the sand and wait for her to return. Off she went with her friends to experience my heart’s desire. So, rather than be bored until she got back, I put on my pint size swim fins and decided that I would show her, just how big I really was. This journey of swimming across the river seemed endless but I finally made it. There were bushes along the bank, so I decided to hide and wait there for her to come back. About 15 minutes later she returned and of course I wasn’t where she had told me to wait. Frantically she began calling my name and I could see she was panicked at the thought that I might have even drowned. I waited a minute or two and popped up from behind the bushes, shouting, “I’m over here!” She turned and saw me with her mouth wide open. She dove into the river swimming as fast as she could to reach me. The faster she swam, the more I got scared because she did not look happy. She picked me up and asked, “How did you get over here…how?” I showed her my swim fins and explained I just wanted her to see how big I really am. I told her I was so sad that she wouldn’t take me on the inner tube. She didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she said, “Well, I’m going to have to tell mom and dad what you’ve done, and you probably will be grounded from coming to the river for awhile.” I quickly responded with, “Well, you were supposed to be in charge of me, and you left me on the bank by myself. Who do you think is gonna be in more trouble…me or you?” She was caught in a Catch-22! Our dad showed up unannounced to retrieve us for dinner. We were still across the river when we heard him call us. Uh oh, now how were we going to explain our situation? We swam back across with my sister right by my side, and we started climbing the stairs up to our dad. He just looked at us, waiting for us to explain. We told the truth and both got grounded for a week. I was just happy not to get the spanking that probably should have happened too.

Looking back at that day, and other adventures quite like it, I’m reminded that my vision was muddy and not so clear. Was I thinking about the risk I was taking as a small little girl, and the possibility that I could have easily drowned? Nope! I was just out to prove my point. So often times, my life has been filled with muddy waters, simply because I couldn’t clearly see God’s perspective when I’ve made decisions on my own without asking Him first, in fervent prayer for wisdom and beyond. Life can be full of muddy waters that represent our sin, and until we ask His forgiveness, we cannot see clearly. The algae is slimy and often is tangled up in sticks and other debris, just like Satan is gross and he oftens wants to tangled up our lives with his agenda. But in the midst of the muddy waters, there are the rocks that help sustain the banks of the rivers and keep the landslides from happening. Jesus Christ is our Rock so the banks of our daily lives do not slide into the muddy waters of the enemy.

When I’ve spent time swimming in the Pacific Ocean, it has either been muddy like the river, or crystal blue when I’ve swam in Hawaii. God is always there in both places for sure. When I have accidentally swallowed some ocean water, the salt taste is so strong it takes awhile for it to leave my taste buds. But I think God wanted us to taste that salt as a reminder of just how strong He made the ocean tide, and we are to be salt and light in our daily walk with Him. In His infinite wisdom, he used the salt as a caution for us not to drink the water, and at the same time it tells us to have respect for the mighty and never ending oceans.

My prayer is that if I look into the muddy waters of any river, lake, ocean or pond, that Jesus will clear the view of debris, and help me to see the reflection of Him. As the Sonshine beats down upon the water, that is all I need to clearly see His imagine, and know that the purity of Himself will shine through. May I always remember the lessons of my youth, and continue to wade through all of the muddy waters that the enemy tries to bog me down with, to get to the Living Water and remain the best reflection of Jesus to the those who come into my life and are thirsty.