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Get Out of the Boat

                      Shortly before dawn 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?” (Matthew 14:25-31)

 

When I researched Peter, I spent some time thinking about this passage. I’d read Ortberg’s If You Want to Walk on Water, Get Out of the Boat, but the more I thought, the more I concluded that he’d missed a critical point. If I were a demon or a ghost and I had just identified myself as Jesus, I certainly wouldn’t have answered Peter with “Oh well, sorry Peter, I’m not really Jesus. Stay in the boat.” I would have said something more in line with, “Come on in! The water’s fine!”

I kept thinking and eventually changed my conclusion. Peter trusted Jesus, and even if the figure on the sea was not Jesus, the Son of God was certainly able to save him, as Jesus did when Peter’s faith ran out, as He rescued Daniel in the lion’s den, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. And that thought leads me back to what Professor Willard says about the universe being a perfectly safe place in which to live. And now the coward in me is saying, “Eep.”

And this is what has been plaguing me all the while I’ve been talking about goals. What if it’s the wrong goal? What if it’s not Jesus making the suggestions. What if …what if…what if… I’m wrong? Is it any wonder I’m struggling to keep my head above water?

So, it’s not organized. It’s not scheduled or figured out in any way. But, if God blesses, here are a few of the goals I have in mind:

Finish and publish Word Fire

Finish writing book 4

Learn to market books better

Become a better steward of time, talent, treasure

Read 100 books

Lose 50 lbs.

Get stronger (exercise)

Learn about creativity and apply what I learn

Make a whole bunch of Christmas ornaments (decoupage, cross-stitch, whatever.)

Learn to grow onions and tomatoes right

Raise whatever caterpillars I find and release them as butterflies

Improve skills: writing, sewing, foraging, gardening, and at least one new.

Organize anything that is not nailed in place.

Learn to make necessary repairs myself (conquer cowardice in this regard.)

 

I’m sure there will be more, and breakdowns of the above. If God blesses, what do you want to accomplish? 

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