I still can't figure out why God always gets my attention in the middle of a swimming pool. It can't possibly be because I've whacked my head against the wall while doing a back stroke or because I somehow lost my goggles yesterday between the time I left the locker room after I showered and changed and the time I got home and emptied my bag of the dirty clothes and wet swimsuit and towels to wash. I think it has something more to do with running a race.
Yes, ok, SWIMMING a race, in my case. I'm not training for any swim meet any time soon, but that IS something I want to do sometime. Having that goal is a good thing, just like runners train for a marathon or tennis players train for Wimbledon. It will give me something to look forward to. But as I am swimming, there are ropes that separate the lap lanes from the open swimming areas. There are also marks on the bottom of the pool and beams on the ceiling of the indoor pool that I use to make sure I'm within the center of the lane, that let me know how close I am to the edge of the pool, or that tell me if I'm giving the other person enough room if I'm sharing a lane with another swimmer. And since I have some vision problems that include limited depth perception, I'm grateful for goggles and glasses to help me see where I am going. I'm sure runners and bikers also use landmarks to help them find their way on unfamiliar trails or to allow them to figure out how far they have to go to get to the finish line. And there are certainly times I've been a sideline cheerleader to my friend, Becky, who's run several races!
In my Christian journey, the benchmark I look to is Jesus, who is the author and finisher of my faith. When I take my eyes off of Jesus, that's when I hit my head and stumble or lose the depth perception of a faith which has survived walking through fire. In the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 3 tells the story of Daniel's three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who got thrown into a fiery furnace for worshiping God instead of the Babylonian king. In verses 24 and 25 of chapter 3 we read, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, 'Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?' They replied, 'Certainly, Your Majesty.' He said, 'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.' " God's presence protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire, and all three made it out alive and were allowed to continue worshiping God. I am grateful for the protection of God when I keep my focus on and worship Him, even when I'm in the "fiery furnaces" that dare to trip me up.
But Hebrews 12:1-3 also talk about the "great cloud of witnesses," others who share our faith and are the cheerleaders at the end of our race's finish line. Just as I have been a supporter for Becky during a race she runs, so I am grateful for the times she and I support each other when times get tough, or when we rejoice together when things go well. I'm grateful for my other friends who offer me support or depend on me in good times and bad.
I guess the biggest reason God often gets my attention when I'm swimming is because I'm so focused and not distracted by anything else around me. When I get done swimming, I often have felt much freer and open to run (and swim) the race I have before me, and to enjoy the unencumbered life I'm called to live wholeheartedly. It's hard to run when you're tied to a tree, just like it's hard to live life with joy when you're worried, angry, scared, sad, or lonely. But when we can truly cast aside what bugs us and allow the Lord and others to help us out, we can truly run with joy even when life is hard.
Nehemiah 8:10 is one of my favorite verses, which says "Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' " The Israelites were discouraged and defeated in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, but Nehemiah reminded them of how precious life is and that there are times we should rejoice and help each other out even when life is uncertain. I choose the joy to help me get through the sorrows of life, and I will let you go enjoy the rest of your weekend with the lyrics to one of my favorite Twila Paris songs.:
The joy of the Lord will be my strength
I will not falter, I will not faint
He is my Shepherd, I am not afraid
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
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The joy of the Lord will be my strength
He will uphold me all of my days
I am surrounded by mercy and grace
And the joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Find out what's happening in South Whitehallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord will be my strength
And I will not waiver, walking by faith
He will be strong to deliver me safe
And the joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength
I'm singing the joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength