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.