When I was a child
my summers were defined by how often I could go swimming. I loved to swim! We never had a pool of our own but what we
did have was a swimming hole.
Always! There was nothing better
than cooling off on a hot summer day in the freezing creek water. Finding the right spot was a yearly ritual
that always ended with a dip in the newly cleared swimming hole. I have such fond memories of swimming, being
nibbled on by curious perch, and picnicking—all wonderful remembrances except for
one.…the journey there. Before we could
get to that place of sweet relief, we had to travel through the woods on a road
that wasn’t really a road. It was more
like a trail, a treacherous trail. There
were spots along the way that were huge mud holes that would have me fearing
that our truck, in which we were all piled, would simply sink to the roof. There were also stretches of washed out areas
that seemed like holes large enough to swallow the truck. One such place was loving named Open Heart
Surgery because that is exactly how it looked.
In my childlike mine we were traversing this dangerous trek that required me to hold my breath, pray silently,
and hang on!! (That’s right, I was usually in the bed of the truck, sometimes
on the tailgate and I’m not ashamed to say it!!) Bravery was found in knowing that I could
trust my dad to get us through the mud holes and washouts and never leave us
stranded. Because of my trust in him, I
eagerly looked forward to what lay just on the “other side”— our much- loved
swimming hole.
I often relish the
memories that were made along the way and consider how like our faith journey
were those experiences. In this fallen
world in which we live, there can be joy in the journey! Sometimes there will be scary places and
unpleasant things we must traverse. Even so, just beyond this life…the sweet
relief of Heaven awaits. Our bravery can
be found in the One who has promised that He would never leave us or forsake
us.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you
will not drown. When you walk through
the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume
you.
Isaiah 43:2
