Picture from: gci.orgJesus Walks on the Water Matthew 14: 22-36
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Over the last couple months this story in the gospels as really stood out to me. I love the idea of Jesus walking on water in the middle of storm, but this in only part of what I like. I think about Peter's part to this story. Peter proves himself to be VERY human throughout his time on earth with Jesus. I love this about Peter, because it is easy for me to relate to this kind of character. In this scripture we see something awesome when Peter follows Jesus and steps out of the boat. Can you imagine what the other diciples were thinking? Can you imagine what you would do? Personally, I am afraid I would have said, "Are you crazy, that's water! I ain't getting out of this boat unless it sinks!" Peter, however, steps out of the boat in faith. Yes, he later loses faith and sinks BUT the first thing he does is look up to Jesus and reach! He doesn't panic, he looks to Jesus to save him, and Jesus does. True, Jesus does say, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" But what would Jesus have said to the other 11 disciples who stayed in the safety and comfort of the boat? If Peter had little faith, what kind of faith did they have? I want to step out of the boat, even if I sometimes sink.
I want to step out of the boat but often I stay in the comfy boat waiting for the opportunities to come to me. Eventually of course some do come but what do I miss by staying in the boat? This is what makes me write today. I have made a commitment to step out of the boat in faith and move forward with confidence.
This decision is Living Hope Camping Foundation. Throughout the last year and a half this vision has evolved from starting an inner city camp to forming a non-profit foundation which will send underprivileged kids in mostly central North Carolina to Christian camps throughout the region. I have found the process of learning, studying, and preparing tedious and long. After all the end is the goal, not process is just a means. This tedious and long process can dishearten people because the goal seems so far off. Not only can preparation be disheartening, but storms of life come up in the form of many questions, obstacles, and doubts. These are enough to make you sit in the boat and wait. This did happen with me, I would think about all the issues and preparations for camp and work on it but all I really did was try to delay the action, not because I didn't believe in the vision, but because change and responsibility can be scary. About two months ago I read this story and saw it with new eyes. I saw Peter stepping out of the boat with new eyes and I knew I was one of the 11 waiting for opportunity to come to me.
Upon this realization I reevaluated my vision and discovered, not only was I still in the boat, I was striving after my vision (Refine the future of out children through Christian camps) with something I love (Working at Camp). In reality I can refine the future of countless more underprivileged kids by starting a foundation solely focusing on scholarships (60 - 75 percent of the budget going to scholarships. If I were to start a camp, only about 15 percent of the budget would go directly to camp scholarships. However, changing the operation to better fit the vision is something I can do in the boat. I want to, and need to, step out of the boat and keep walking toward my vision and goals in faith and I am going to start NOW! A few months ago I set a goal to Incorporate my non-profit by the end of August 2010 and to achieve tax exempt status by the end of 2011. I am well on my way toward completing the first goal but please pray for my efforts and pray that I continue to "step out of the boat."
How about you? Are you one of the 11? What opportunity are you waiting for to find you? Join me and step out of the boat. We may.....no will sink. We will have "little faith" sometimes, but it takes more faith to step out and sink, than to stay in the comfort of the boat.
Step out of the boat.
An atheist was walking through the woods, thinking to himself,