The Grace of Getting Lost, Being Late, and Lacking Vision

Today was a water day.  It was also a testing day.  Level 1, 2, & 3 testing today with Level 4 & 5 testing on September 10.

Everyone was sort of anxious.  We tried to be ready, we really did.  During the week, we all re-read parts our text book.  All of us re-watched the Open Water Certification video.  Friday morning we went over all of our equipment and tested everything for safety.  Unfortunately, when something is completely new, no matter how much you know there is no substitute for experience.  Oh the joy of being a novice!

So there we were this morning . . . excited . . . nervous . . . ready to go . . . and just wanting to crawl back in bed.  It's weird how emotions and worry can play havoc on our insides, isn't it?

Twelve novice divers started with our log books, pens in hand, ready to learn.  We could do this we thought.  Then it started.  Chuck Larson (one of the most educated and experienced divers in the world) going through each page like a cheetah chasing a gazelle.  When we all caught up, finally breathing again, he said "Ok, it's time to go diving!"  Everyone loaded up in the vehicles and headed to Gull Lake.

One Problem.  Our family got kind of lost.  Not real sure about our log books and now we couldn't even follow a map.  Not the start we were hoping for.  Quickly unloading, we got everyone hooked up, buddied up, and suited up . . . and then we were in the water.

I don't know if you're familiar with Gull Lake, but it's a very cloudy lake.  Meaning, it might be great for all that water activity on the surface, but it makes it very difficult to see when you're under it.  No exaggeration here, the visibility at best was about 5 feet.

So . . .  just a quick review . . . we don't know what we are doing (novice) . . . we don't know how to get there (lost) . . . and we can't see (no vision) . . . and we are being tested.

It reminded me of Abraham.  God comes to him and says "Go to the land I will show you."  Doesn't know where he's going, can't see very far in front of him, and still he goes.  It reminded me of Moses.  Sees a burning bush, stops to see what's happening and then finds himself called to be a leader of a people under the yoke of oppression and slavery.  What did he know about being a leader or even a trip leader for that matter?  It reminded me of Peter.  Just a family business fisherman minding his own boat who suddenly finds himself on the adventure of a life time even though he didn't know it was the adventure of a lifetime.  It reminded me of Paul.  A passionate protestor to the way of Jesus who suddenly finds himself blinded by what's really true and what really means something.  What did he know about being a missionary or a bible book writer?

It amazes me how much today felt like what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

I'll be honest, most days I don't know what I'm doing as a husband, a father, or a pastor.  I pretend that I do, but I don't.  Some days things happen so quickly that I'm just trying to keep up.  Some days I'm late getting somewhere because I don't know where I'm going.  Some days I can't see beyond the five feet in front of my life because there is too much debris in the water.

And then something amazing happens.  At the end of the day, the instructor comes up to you and says "You did great today!"

Not knowing what you're doing, not knowing where you're going, not able to see five feet in front of you and still the Great Teacher is proud of you.  That my friends is grace.  It's true in scuba but it's even more true in life with Jesus.

"O for grace to trust you more" the great hymn sings because grace is what we all need.  Abraham needed it.  Moses needed it.  Peter needed it.  Paul needed it.

And today . . . a family learning to scuba dive on an August Saturday in Michigan needed it too.

Preparation . . .

Even though our Sabbatical doesn't officially begin until November . . . we already find ourselves taking some important first steps.  Certification, as in Scuba certification.  We had no idea how demanding this would be.

First, you are required to read through an entire book on scuba diving, watch a video, and then take a test on each chapter.  The requirement for passing is simply getting everything right.  I guess, when you are breathing underwater at 80 feet below the surface, it's important to know how everything works.  Who knew?

Next, we had to sit in a classroom for three hours going over all the ins and outs of scuba equipment, preparation for a dive, oxygen and nitrogen levels in the blood and how they change in different pressure levels, and then we had to take an exam.  The standard for passing is 80%.  We all passed with flying colors.

I'm amazed at the knowledge and insight of our instructor Rob Stam.  He's been helpful with all of us, but especially with Kiley and Mark.  In fact, the entire Ocean Sands Scuba crew has been awesome.  They know the importance of safe diving and are diligent in making sure we understand as well.  Someone told me that if you get certified through Ocean Sands you can get certified any where in the world.  Based on what we've experienced so far, I believe them.  It also gives me great comfort to know we are being trained by the best.

We have almost 10 hours invested and we haven't even been in the water!  It makes me wonder.

I wonder about preparation.  How well did I prepare for being married or for being a parent?  How well do I currently prepare to begin each day or to prepare myself for worship on a Sunday morning?  How often do I find myself learning in preparation from the One who knows how it all works?  How well do most of us prepare ourselves for anything?

A mentor from my past used to say "It's time to grab the lunch pail and head down to the factory floor and put in the hard work . . . of getting ready."  Even though it's still months away, I want to be ready for Sabbatical.  I want to be ready as a Church.  I want to be ready as a family.  Along with the Sabbatical Committee, we are committed to grab the lunch pail and hit the floor to get ready.

But it's more than that.  Sure, I want to be ready for Sabbatical . . . but more importantly, I want to be ready for every day as a follower of Jesus.  As a follower of Jesus who is a husband, a father, a pastor, a family member, a friend.

One of my favorite worship songs as a teenager was "Sanctuary."  Do you know this song?  If you do, sing it with me . . . "Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true, with thanksgiving, I'll be a living, sanctuary for You."  Over the next few months, I want to sing that song a lot.  I want to sing it . . . to hum it . . . to pray it . . . to whisper it . . . to shout it.  Lord, prepare me.  Lord, prepare us.

It's an important first step.