A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas
Have you ever heard the roar of the ocean? It is a constant hum that I can hear half a mile off the shore. It ranges from a mighty roar to a gentle growl that has become so popular on noise machines used as sleep aids. Soft or Loud it is always there. Constant. Reliable. Eternal.
The ocean contains a vast spectrum of wonders from the tiny sand crabs that burrow in the sand in the shallow wake delighting children and seagulls alike, to the darkest depths of the unexplored vastness that we cannot begin to grasp because it is unattainable.
The United States Geological Survey states that "About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water. Water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers, and even in you and your dog. Water is never sitting still."
God is like the Ocean.
I am reminded of the lines in the song, Waymaker, "Even though I don't see it you're working, even though I don't feel it you're working. You never stop, you never stop working,.."
Like the ocean, hitting the shore wave after wave, God never stops.
We stop, we give up, we have temper tantrums, and then we try again, or not.
It is no accident that John, in I John 5:6-8, describes the Trinity as Water (God), Blood (Jesus), and The Spirit.
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.
On a family trip to Hawaii, when I was 12, I got too far out in the ocean on a raft and lost it. I had to swim a very long way to shore in the shifting currents. I could have drowned. It was then that I developed a respect for the power of the ocean. Even when I watch shows with huge terrifying waves my heart races and I have to calm myself.
God is power and should be feared in the sense that we cannot contain Him. We cannot understand all that He is or does. We cannot treat Him like a pool toy or raft that we bring out when we need amusement or saving. He offers so much more.
At our place in Bodega Bay, you can see both the ocean and the creek from the house. At a certain time of the year, the ocean joins the creek and the salmon are able to swim up the creek and spawn. The mighty ocean joins the serene creek.
This is a great analogy for God, power meets serenity and the giver of life. We cannot contain God or define Him but we can trust Him. He is unchanging and constant. He is gentle and powerful.
My daughter and I have been watching superhero movies. The other night we watched Dr. Strange. The Ancient One, who mentors Dr. Strange, addressed his inability to utilize the power that was available to him. She said,
“You cannot beat a river into submission, you have to surrender to its power and let the power of the current take you.”
True unexplainable joy comes from a relationship with the one who is power and serenity; so vast He needed 3 persons to contain Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Let the current take you. If you trust and surrender to God's power he will guide you around every rock and obstacle that you find in your way and you may even enjoy the ride.
At the ocean side, a wave hits the shore every 5-7 seconds, every minute, every day, every month, every year. It is constant.
God is like the ocean!
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