Christian Living

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STROLLING ON THE WATER
words and music by Bryan Duncan and John Andrew Schreiner
© 1998 Fanatic Music (adm. by Word Music, Inc.)

Favorite Recording: The Last Time I Was Here, Bryan Duncan

Open up my eyes, I pray
Lord, for just a little glimpse of you
That’s all I need, it’s all I’ve ever needed
To see beyond myself, beyond this tiny little world
All your hands have made
With beauty and strength alone
I can see you comin’ to me now
Oh, like a shimmerin’ light
Shimmerin’ light on an open sea
Barefoot on the water
Laughin’ at the ocean
Like you were old friends
Callin’ out my name
Saying join me now

Help me cut these bonds where I keep my spirit tied
All safe and dry
Safe and dry, but so afraid
Let me come to you
Let me run to you
With my heart still beating
Beating in my throat
With my sweaty palms and mouth so dry
Shakin’ ‘til I can’t stand still
All I’m askin’
All I’m askin’ is to let me cross
That great divide between you and I
Only you can take me there
So take me there, yeah!

I know that you said, “follow me”
Just let the water flow
Let it go
Oh keep your eyes on me
Do you feel alive?
Try turnin’ circles, yeah
Bend your knees
and hold your hands up high
Can you feel the wind in your hair?
With your eyes closed
Take a breath of fresh air
Feel the mist on your toes
Look where we are!

Strollin’ on the water
High over every care
Strollin’ on the water
Sinking no longer
Let me rise above the high tide
I can do it, I’ll do it, yeah
I know where my strength comes from

Curled up in my bed early in the morning under a mountain of covers, half in – half out of sleep, I just listen. I hear my husband gently snoring next to me. That sound of deep breathing, in and out; that place of deep sleep. The dog barks next door, pleading with the neighbors to come out, say good morning, and bring breakfast. There’s a bird chattering in the tree outside my window.

Now that’s comfort to me … a place of warmth, complete security and rest. But soon the alarm will ring and it will be time to get out of bed and face the challenges of the new day. If I don’t get out of bed, no progress will be made.

Life is like that, too. Our comfort zones are those things that are so familiar to us, so commonplace, that they provide us with a sense of warmth and security. Maybe it’s the home we’ve lived in as long as we can remember. Maybe it’s the job we’ve had for a while, having mastered all its requirements until we no longer even have to think to do it. Maybe it’s that old pair of shoes that always fit and never make your feet hurt. Maybe it’s the comfort of a routine schedule that rarely changes … work all day during the week, meetings on Monday, choir on Tuesday night, kids activities on Wednesday, laundry Saturday, church on Sunday.

But I believe there’s such a thing as too much comfort, too much security. They say that familiarity breeds contempt. How true. When you become so familiar with a person or place or thing, you begin to see its flaws. All those little imperfections come to the surface. The strange personal habits of a spouse that annoy. The room in your house that’s too small or doesn’t have enough light. The manager who seems to never listen and doesn’t appreciate you. The hole in the sole of that old shoe. That schedule that keeps you running until you don’t feel you have any time for yourself. Those flaws begin to loom large until we can no longer see the good in anything.

Where’s the wonder? Where’s the joy? It’s gone. And now your comfort zone has become uncomfortable.

Our lives are a journey not a destination. It’s a continuous travel from one comfort zone to another, by way of the uncomfortable. God puts us in a place, and helps us become comfortable there. When it’s time to move on to a new place or a deeper relationship with Him or others, He makes us uncomfortable.

When I begin to feel comfortable in my life, I take joy in the rest that is there. But I also brace myself, because I know that place is temporary. I can only grow and mature, live more and love more, if He makes me uncomfortable. And He will.

Those places of discomfort are when God is dealing with me. Maybe it’s conviction over complacency or poor choices. Maybe it’s a calling to a higher and deeper level of service for Him.

I’m reminded of the story of Peter walking on the water.

Jesus said, “Come to me.”

Peter stepped out of the boat. As long as his eyes were firmly fixed on Jesus, he walked confidently on the water. Although the wind blew his robe and the waves kissed his feet, he was able to do the unthinkable. When he allowed himself to be distracted by all that was going on around him, the wind, the waves, the uncomfortable, he began to sink.

Isn’t that like us? When we leave our comfort zone it’s so easy to be distracted by our circumstances and take our eyes off of our journey, our power, our faith, our Lord. The good news is that, like Peter, Jesus is right there to reach out his hand and catch us.

Looking back we always come through those times of discomfort into a new place of comfort. In Peter’s case, what could be more comfortable than the arms of Jesus?

So when I’m uncomfortable, I’m thankful, too. Thankful for the rest I had in my comfort zone. Thankful for the new things God is leading me to. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus I won’t sink … I’ll keep walking even when it seems impossible. And when I get distracted and cry out “Help me, Lord,” I know that Jesus will always reach out a hand to catch me.

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