Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, “Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow.” His companion readily accepted the challenge, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object of his attention. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and when he had walked a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, again turned to look over his steps. When they arrived at their destination each halted and inspected his steps. One path was true as arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. “How did you get your path so true?” asked the boy who created the crooked path. “Well,” said the other boy, “I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them focused there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course.”
This is a perfect picture of the Christian life. If we fix our eyes of our hope, out trust, and our FAITH upon Christ, and keep them continually fastened thereon, we will at last land at the desired haven, with flowers of immortal victory at our feet. How easily to we succumb top the pressures of this life and take our focus away from Christ? How often do we allow these pressures to separate from our faith?
In the Gospel of Matthew, 14: 22-34, we read about the disciples being tossed by a storm on a boat in the middle of the sea. Jesus had commanded them to meet him at the other side while he went to a mountaintop to pray. In the fourth watch of the night, about 4:00 AM Jesus went to them walking on the water. They lost their hope they were so discouraged. For being tossed all evening and throughout the night, they probably cried out to our Lord for help, the help came much later than they expected, during the FOURTH WATCH! Imagine the disciples, all fishermen by trade, being on a storm tossed boat, frightened by the conditions. The Lord hears them, He hears all of our prayers, but answers in due time. The tardiness of Christ’s response disheartens His disciples. They were expecting His reply during the first watch, maybe the second, by the time He arrives to remedy the situation they are hopeless, considering Him to be a ghost.
Peter’s faith is amazing. While the boat is being hurled Peter exclaims, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” The Lord gently responds, “Come.” Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk towards Christ. As the boat is heaved by the waves Peter’s concentration is interrupted by his fear. He begins to sink, and cries, “Lord save me!” Jesus reaches out his hand and pulls out of the water, as he brings Peter to safety the wind and waves cease, and Christ asks, “Why did you doubt?”
Explanations on this event usually center on Peter’s lack of faith and chastise him for lacking true faith. But I offer this thought, how many of us would have stepped out of the boat during that storm? Peter was the only disciple to get out of the boat and get his feet wet! The other eleven sat there depressed and dejected, so bewildered and frightened that they did not even recognize Christ! Peter’s sinking has, in contemporary commentaries, overshadowed the reality of his confidence! He stepped out into the sea, walked on water; not on a clear and beautiful, but during a tempest!
Too often we sit in the boat and chastise those who step out and try something new because they start to sink. All the while we enjoy the security of the boat. We wait for the conditions to be right before we step out. People all over the world are waiting for the conditions to be right to get married, start a business, have children, help at their local church, or to build a church. The conditions will never be just right.
Peter sank, but Peter had the courage to step off the boat. Peter sank, but he had the confidence that a miracle would take place. Peter sank, but Christ was there with an arm extended! If our faith is going to grow we need to step out of the boat and get our feet wet. If hope is going to grow we need to step off the boat and get our feet wet. If St. Demetrios Church in Camarillo is going to grow, we must build on the foundation left by our predecessors, get off the boat, and get our feet wet!
The storm is raging out there, you have the wonderful option of enjoying the security of a sturdy ship, or we can take a leap of faith, much like Peter, and answer the call of Christ. Yes, we might sink, but we can go to bed at night knowing that we had the enthusiastic confidence to step off the boat and walk on water! Lets get our feet wet!
