Tonight, as I was serving tables a table had gotten sat just as I had been cut. Knowing that it was an extra bit of cash I proceeded to stay on and take this last table in my section due to the fact that they seemed fun and energetic and that helps me to enjoy the last thirty minutes of silverware, closing work, and bringing up clean dishes.
With one of the young ladies sitting there I proceeded to strike up a conversation joking and having a good time. Upon her sister arriving I realized I was into something good; this table had personality and I was truly enjoying being their server. The night passed and courses came and went and we eventually struck up a conversation about God. Now let me forewarn you, this is not a normal occurrence. The beautiful part was the conversation started organically. It did not take any prodding or pushing. It was almost as if this conversation was long overdue.
We began to talk about what youth ministry was and how if they had come up in a different youth ministry, maybe they would have stayed in church. My heart actually broke for a minute. The bummer part in this situation was that these ladies were graduated from High School for a couple of years now. One a senior at ASU and the other a successful young woman of 25, both with their futures and lives ahead of them. Both fun, full of life and yet in the same moment frustrated by the thought of what could have been had they been in a different youth environment.
After this conversation I did what I always do, I just started dreaming. My dream went from this one phrase that was shared this evening, a phrase that I loved: “What could have happened if..?”. Great question. What could have happened if?
Through several moments of thought I found myself at a familiar story in scripture. The story is recorded in both Matthew and Mark (Matthew 14 and Mark 6). The story probably has the title over it that says “Jesus walks on water”. Now stick with me because this may be a little confusing but it makes sense in my head. Here is why I found myself reading this story over and over this evening…
One of the main reasons that a book entitled You Lost Me says that most 20-30 somethings are not in church is because they were not allowed to ask questions that were good questions. This point, that was brought up tonight during the conversation as well, was something that I had been curious about for a while. With the story of Peter walking on water, here is the main question that I allow students to ask: Can a man really do that? Walk on water?
I reserve this question as rhetorical for the time being, but think about it. What if we miss the point? My thinking eventually lead me to the thought process that follows: Let’s pretend Jesus did not walk on water, would the story change less? I am of the variety that believes that this actually happened, but if that trips you up, lets narrow it down. There are a few key elements to the story. There is Jesus on the water. There are the 12 dudes in the boat commonly referred to as disciples. There is the storm, the waves, the lightning and thunder and other key elements like wind and probably some spray from the water. Even if this story is taken as a metaphorical story it is still powerful.
Today’s common perspective seems to be simple, “Why get out of a perfectly good boat?” Yet another great question. But let me counter with an even greater question… If you had an opportunity to walk on water, would you do it?
What if the whole point is about getting out of the boat in the first place? What if the only time you need courage is to take that step out onto the metaphorical water? What if we could do that no matter where we were? I know the waves are crashing, thunder and lightning going off like it’s the day after tomorrow, but let us dream for one second… if you had the chance to walk on water… would you take it?
Peter took it. I don’t know how it worked. I think it’s perfectly understandable to question the not-so-normal aspect of it all, the law defying physics of the moment. But what if you had a chance to walk on water? Would you take it?
I think we are all sitting on the boat. I think those two young women I met tonight are sitting on the edge of the boat. What would it look like to nudge, jump, dive, slide, fall, roll, another action word, off of the boat and get your chance to walk on water? I am not saying it will not be a little weird at first, but it may be the only thing you need to spark a little bit of faith in your heart that could truly have you feeling like you could walk on water.
Wide is the path that leads to destruction, only a few find what they are looking for. I will be willing to bet the few that found it, got off of the boat.
To those two individuals… Let’s change whatever it is we can change so that no one else is left sitting on the edge of the boat. Current followers of Jesus, let’s not make it hard for them to do so.
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Food for thought: A huge thank you to those two women for being so honest with me. For everyone else reading this: where are you standing? On the boat? On the edge? On the water?
leadershape 