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alligator

We played alligator last night with our high school group. Are you familiar with this game? The group lines up in the shallow end and swims under water to the deep end trying not to get grabbed and dragged to the surface by “the alligator”. As more swimmers are caught the number of alligators grows.

So it doesn't take long before I’m exhausted, holding my breath, kicking and struggling to reach the deep end wall. Finally I come up for air, only to do it all again.

It feels like my whole summer has been this way. Constantly under attack by alligators, kicking and struggling to reach a goal, coming up gasping for air, and then diving right in to the next event. It’s a challenge to stay intimate with God when life is this way. In my peripheral vision I notice the miraculous hand of God at work around me, and yet I’m so focused on reaching the wall.

I could write so much about this summer. It’s been an amazing time of miracles. And yet I’ve allowed my intimacy with God to slip away at times too. For now, there’s another wall in sight, so I’m going to take another gulp of air and start swimming. But as I do, I am determined to ignore the alligators and focus fully on my Abba Father.

5 comments (Add your own)

1. John wrote:
We all swim with the alligators and are delivered by the hand of providence! If you take your eyes off the "wall" to watch for the gators, one of 'em gets ya! Reminds me of when Peter walked on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was fine. The minute he took his eyes off him and noticed the wind, he began to sink. If he makes a path for us to walk, he makes a way for us to walk, or swim, it!

Wed, August 18, 2010 @ 1:01 PM

2. Madi B. wrote:
Chris,
This post made me think of the song "Swim" by Jack's Mannequin. Maybe you will think so too :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA8PaIw5gcE

Wed, August 18, 2010 @ 7:43 PM

3. Sara wrote:
I hate that your life is like this right now. It's hard to watch. Yet God sure continues to use it, huh?! There is a season...
I love you and am so proud of you for how you're handling this craziness.

Wed, August 18, 2010 @ 8:49 PM

4. brenda wrote:
Praying for you (and Bill) for endurance during this season and for wisdom for the church for the future!!!

Thu, August 19, 2010 @ 8:35 PM

5. Jonah wrote:
Remind me to tell you about alligators the next time we talk...

Wed, August 25, 2010 @ 10:13 AM

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