Thoughtful Thursday 

Hold on Tight

While at the lake recently, I had the strangest experience. My husband, Ed, had decided that he wanted to see what was underneath the surface of the water. He bought a nice snorkel outfit, and off we went for our adventure.

I watched intently as he attached the mouthpiece to a clear tube, which was supposed to stick out of the water, so that he could breathe in the fresh air while his face was submerged. He then put on the goggles that completed his snorkeling outfit. 

“I think I’ll take that blue throw cushion,” he said. “I’ll tie one end of this long rope to the cushion, and you hold onto the other end of the rope. That way, I’ll be attached to you the whole time.” So...we tied one end of the long brown rope to the blue throw cushion, and I held the other end tightly in my hand.

We had turned off the engine to our pontoon boat, so it was just gently floating close to the shoreline. The lake was very quiet. No other boats were close by at that time. Ed made a splash as he jumped off the back of the boat and into the water. He was floating along, holding onto the throw cushion with his right forearm. I was watching intently as his face was submerged in the water. After a minute, he raised up and waved at me. I was still standing at the back of the boat, holding tightly to my end of the rope.

“See anything?” I asked. “ No,” he said. “Visibility is about five or six feet. I’m going to try again.” Once again, he lowered his face into the water, all the while, holding onto the throw cushion that was attached to me at the other end. Ed was about ten or fifteen feet away from our boat. I didn’t take my eyes off his back  as he floated along. The lake was still quiet, except for a small boat that passed us as it entered a nearby cove. Once in the cove, the other boat cut its engine, so the only sound was the lapping of the waves, as they rocked our pontoon boat back and forth, and up and down.

About that time, Ed’s phone rang. It was lying on the driver’s seat, and I turned to answer it, stretching my arm, so I could still hold onto the rope.  It was our son, Ben, calling. I quickly turned back, so I could watch over Ed’s efforts to see underwater. I talked with Ben for a few minutes, explaining what was going on, all the time, keeping my eyes on Ed’s floating body. “Well, I’ve got to go,” said Ben. “Okay,” “I said. “I’ll tell your dad that you called.” 

I turned toward the front of the boat just for a few seconds, to lay Ed’s phone on the driver’s seat. When I turned back around, expecting to see Ed floating a short distance away, I saw nothing but water...not Ed, and not a throw cushion...nothing but the stillness of the lake.  I started to panic. I still had the rope wound around my hand. I began to pull it toward me, all the while, yelling, “Ed! Ed!...Ed!” As I kept pulling on the rope, the other end came up out of the water. It wasn’t attached to anything. I could see the old man and woman in the smaller boat that had gone into the cove. They were looking curiously at me. By this time, I was in full panic mode. “Ed!!!” I kept yelling. Maybe I should blow the horn to get their attention. Maybe they could help. “Dear, God,” I prayed. “Please let Ed be okay!” 
 
As I was searching for the boat’s horn, my hands were shaking, and I kept praying the whole time. Once again,  I looked out where I had last seen Ed floating. It was then that I realized that the motion of the waves, caused by the other boat, had carried our pontoon boat, and I had drifted around a point along the shoreline. Instead of blowing the horn, I started the boat, (checking around the motor first, to make sure Ed wasn’t near there), and drove around the point. There was Ed...walking along the bank, nonchalantly carrying his throw cushion. “You scared me to death!” I yelled, as relief washed over me. He just smiled and said, “I thought you saw me untie the cushion, and point to the bank. I waved at you.” He wasn’t alarmed at all. He had seen me float around the point, and figured I’d be back to get him.

I thought this made a good analogy. Sometimes...we can be holding onto God, keeping our eyes on Him. But, then we get distracted...and the next thing you know...we’ve drifted away. However, His eyes are always on us. He knows where we are, and even though we may be disconnected, He has a throw cushion. We need to be mindful to seek His face. He’s not even around the corner…He’s right there with us! We just need to keep our eyes on Him, and draw closer to Him.

I am reminded of the story of Peter, who stepped out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus. But, when he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. (Matthew 14:29-31)

James 4:8, (KJV), tells us, “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you.”

Thank you, Lord, for this everlasting connection. 

Have a great Thursday!