Jump In... The Water's Fine

“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.”
Matthew 17:5

As a competitive swimmer who has done both regular and open water swimming, I can tell you I do not care much for open water swimming - give me a nice pool any day. The differences between pool swimming and open water swimming are like the differences between living a worldly life and following Jesus.

A good competition swimming pool is designed to let the competitors focus on their performance. It is a controlled environment - the water temperature is just right, everything about the pool is meant to help a swimmer think about one thing - swimming their race. If the pool is outside a swimmer might have deal with the effects of the wind, but even that isn’t such a bother. In a pool a freestyle sprinter with excellent lung capacity can make it from one end of the pool to the other without taking a breath or looking to see where they are. They simply follow the black line painted on the bottom of the pool - right to the wall. Even backstrokers know that when they see the flags overhead they have a certain number of strokes until the turn or the end of the race. The water is clear and a swimmer can see the wall at the other end with or without goggles on. Pool swimming is all about the swimmers own performance and their ability control it.

Open water swimming is different, oh it is ultimately still about the swimmers performance - but it’s not the same. Usually the water is cold, there are currents - that are made worse by wind, the water is not clear, so you can’t really see underwater even with goggles. Swimmers in this environment have to be very aware of their surroundings, where they are in relation to other swimmers, the shore and any markers set to help them keep their bearings. Open water swimmers have to watch where they are going, which means they have to look up once in a while to make sure they are going in the right direction so they can arrive safely back on shore. Open water swimming is about overcoming nature which is actually in control.


Open water is like following Jesus. In this week’s passage the soldiers on the ship plan to kill the prisoners before the ship goes down so that they won’t get into trouble for letting them escape. Paul already knew that he would live, because God had told he had to go to Rome to speak to the king. Paul’s guard - the centurion must have known something was different about Paul and his God - enough so that he believed Paul’s life must be spared and to trust that despite the circumstances all would be well. So they jumped, those who could - swam to shore; while those who couldn’t, made it there safely on wreckage of the ship. All of them were at the mercy of the sea and God. 

Being at the mercy of the sea not such a good place to be. Being at the mercy of God who loves us more than anything - is a pretty good place to be. Maybe I’ll re-think open water swimming, maybe it’s spiritual disciple?

So - jump in… the water is fine.

A Prayer
Father – as fallen humans on a fallen planet we like control. We like controlled environments and we like to be in control of everything - having our own selfish way. Help us to get out of our controlled environments and to let go of the control we think we have. Show us that if we keep our eyes on you that no matter what we face we’ll get to the destination you have for us, we’ll get done the work you have for us. Swimming in a pool requires no faith. Swimming in the sea of life is all about trust and faith - trust and faith, in the Maker of everything. Help us to jump in and enjoy the water of life Your love gives us. In the name of Jesus our swim coach and Lighthouse, we pray – Amen.