We Must Choose

Greetings Everybody,
Got a Photo I want to discuss with you.  Take a Look.

View of Daytona Beach taken from the Ocean Walk Promenade

When you look at this picture you can clearly see the clouds, the patch of blue in a winter sky, and a staircase leading down to the sandy beach.


and btw the date on that photo is wrong...it was taken on February 18th not December 18th. My camera ran out of batteries and when I reloaded them, I set the date incorrectly by accident.


Anyway, lets take a look at the symbolism here.


Let's discuss the fact that as Christians,  Every Day We Must Decide If We Want to Stay in the Relative Isolation and Sanctuary of the Promenade or Trust God and become Involved in Peoples Lives.


As I have said before, People Are Messy...physically, spiritually, emotionally and every other "lly".


We contemplate our willingness to become involved knowing that we too will get messy.


Once we go down those steps there will be gritty sand (people will irritate us).


Once we go down those steps there will be scattered seaweed (people will tell us their troubles).


Once we go down those steps we will be face to face with a power much stronger than ourselves (we will experience a loss of personal control).


But how do you get this close to the clash between Ocean and Land (or if we are talking about saving souls, then Heaven & Earth) and NOT go down those steps?


Every day we reflect on The Promenade.
It is clean and it is pretty. 
It is comfortable.
It is appealing.  
On the "Promenade of Life" everything and everybody is safe and secure.


But OUT THERE lurk things and people who are undoubtedly unsafe and insecure.


And yet time after time we descend those steps.


Yes Time and Time again we continually descend those steps.


Because we are supposed to.


WHY?


Because Christians are called to live as Jesus did...and HE didn't stay on the Promenade of Life.

He walked the Sea Shore (both literally and figuratively).

And we know that he did, because scripture says he called some of his disciples who were fishermen (and who later became apostles) by saying:

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19


So then, if we are to model our lives after Jesus, we must choose daily to whether or not to descend those metaphorical steps and encounter other people. 


We must daily choose whether or not to get involved in the grittiness of other peoples lives and hardships.


We must daily choose whether or not to go where there are people who may need us because just like washed up seaweed, their lives are in a state of decay.


We must daily choose whether or not to put ourselves in GOD's hands and in His Name confront powers that are stronger than we are.

It is a daily decision.

And It is not always an easy decision, because it often seems a whole lot less complicated to just stay out of other peoples lives. 

Afterall, it is impossible deal with situations that are messy and gritty and not get some of that mess and grit on ya.  

As for me?


I am never more alive than when I am close to the sea.


In Him
Grace