Our Savior Lutheran Church

"Just Keep Swimming!"

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”– Hebrews 12:1

Having a toddler and pre-schooler in the house, I find myself exposed to TV programs and movies I would never dream of taking the time to watch but find it impossible not to when Miranda says, “Sit, papaw, sit,” and climbs up onto my lap. One of those movies I had not viewed before but have seen many times recently is “Finding Nemo.” The most recent time was last Saturday, a time when I was feeling strung out, exhausted, and at my wits end.

Remember the part where the all-important scuba mask slips down, down, down into the dark gorge? Marlin panics and goes after it, only to swim frantically back out of the darkness. Then the crazy blue fish with a short term memory problem frolics her way into that same blackness with nary a care. A moment later Dorrie comes back to encourage Marlin. “Hey, Mr. Grumpy Gills,” she says, “When life gets you down, you know whatcha gotta do?” “No, I don’t want to know watcha gotta do.” “Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!”

Not that I’m taking lessons from a digitized blue fish, but Dorrie’s attitude reminded me what perseverance should look like. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with sitting on the couch and watching a movie with my granddaughters was evil in itself, but my can’t-go-any-farther attitude was. That attitude indicated that I was slogging away in my own strength and had run out of energy without looking to the Lord for supernatural help. At points like that, even though I know the answer, “I don’t want to know watcha gotta do” to keep pursuing what God has called me to do. Wallowing in my exhaustion seems so much easier.

Sunday evening, I was reminded that, “when life gets you down” and you’re exhausted, God’s faithfulness has the chance to shine through. The end of my rope is the beginning of grace made evident in my life, providing the strength to “keep swimming” even though I’m exhausted. And He gets the praise, because I know that strength is no longer something in me. His mercies are “new every morning” (Lam. 3:23) and enough to keep me moving in the direction that He encourages me to go. My responsibilities are just one more way to bring me to my knees and let the Lord refresh me with His grace. After that, I can keep going in His mercy, and even sing while I’m at it. His faithfulness never ends.  

REFLECTIONS

Prayer Requests – Week of July 19, 2009

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

INSTALLATION

SPECIAL NEEDS