Don't Look Back!

Today is the day that Christa boards a bus bound for Maniwaki, via Ottawa, to work with a ministry to the French-speaking residents there. The four of us Baileys can relate to Peter as he relinquished the safety of the boat for the dark, swirling, stormy waters of a walk to Jesus. Will we relate more readily to the first part of Peter's story when he got out of the boat--"Don't look down"? Or, will our attitudes model that of the more popular, sermon-fodder segment of his late-night boat ride--when he squealed and flailed and balked at the swirling, unfamiliar territory around him and the abyss below him? My parental advice to Christa was to recall the peace that she felt earlier this week in the park and to rest in the assurance that Christ will keep her safe and be her comfort. I hope I can stay true to my own admonition! In fact, I assured her that she was much safer on a bus "traveling alone in a foreign country" than she would be riding solo on MARTA in Atlanta. Perspective is a warm blanket rather than the soggy, clammy embrace if we heed the call of the crooked, boney finger of fear clawing at our pale faces. Apparently, the danger creeps in when we start to think about ourselves. Our eyes need to focus on Christ rather than the surrounding situation. Chambers wisely advises: "If you are recognizing your Lord, you have no business with where He engineers your circumstances.... keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him." His Voice is heard most clearly in the throes of "recklessness." Our task is to avoid looking down but to keep our eyes on Him. The task is secondary. The danger is irrelevant. The fear is our enemy's last hope. Our Hope prevails if we just don't look down.