Fun fact about myself: I LOVE the water! I think any body of water is just the prettiest thing ever. I could stare at a lake, river, even a creek for hours. It's my life's dream to one day live close enough to the ocean that I can go there any time that I want. I absolutely love the beach. I could just stand out on the shore with the water coming in and out hitting my feet for forever. I don't know what it is about water, but I feel a special connection with God when I am near water.
Interestingly enough, the very first nightmare I remember having involved drowning. Some of my most intense dreams that I remember dealt with water.
Throughout the scriptures, there is great symbolism with water. Christ is the Living Water. In parts of the Old Testament, flowing water symbolized the temple and the knowledge found within. In the Book of Mormon, multiple groups of people had to cross the sea in order to reach the promised land, and this journey across the ocean is often compared to our sojourn here on earth.
Some of my favorite New Testament stories deal with water. One of them we discussed in FHE tonight: the story of Peter going out to walk on water to meet Christ. As we discussed this familiar story, I began to think about my life. I love the water. I think it's so pretty - to look at. Save the ocean, I rarely will just volunteer to jump into the water. Even in the ocean, I have never gone out very deep. I have to have a very good reason to submerge myself. Water is cold! And unpredictable. Maybe a little bit frightening. This makes Peter's act of faith even more incredible.
It was night, and it was storming. He sees Christ, and after confirming that it truly is Him, Peter jumps out of the boat. He just hops on out! He is so confident that whatever needs to happen, will. He knows He will be able to meet up with his Friend and Master.
Now, his faith does waver a little bit. He realizes just how stormy it is around him and gets a little bit freaked. Yet, even as he is sinking, he turns to the Savior, knowing He will help, and cries out to Him.
I began to think about my life. I've had to plunge into a few things this semester, acting in a lot of faith. I've had to sacrifice time - time to go to the temple, time to take care of my physical health, time to be with people instead of homework. I've had to sacrifice things that I love - I had to give up being a research assistant this semester! I've had to trust Heavenly Father with things that I have little or no control over. Things going on with my family back home. My desires to have my own family, but my situation making that a little bit difficult and making me uncertain about the reality of that happening. My grades - I'm working my butt off, but I can only do so much and can't stress myself out too much just for a scholarship. My future of graduate school - or other possibilities!
I've worked really hard this semester to just act. To jump out of the boat into the scary waters and walk towards Christ. I haven't always been successful, though. There have been times where I got distracted, where I started worrying, fearing, stressing out. I have always been lifted up, though, before I was submerged. Hands have lifted me every time, gently pointing me back to Christ, reminding me what my focus needs to be on.
Moral of the story: Just jump out of the boat! You will find your way to Christ if you do.
