Crystal Pool
Sunday was hot and we’d been promising my nephews we’d take them swimming to this great pool in Crystal, a suburb near our home. They’d been waiting for this; in fact they had even made up a little chant “Cry-stal Po-ol, Cry-stal po-ol, Cry-stal po-ol”. After church, we went out to eat and then home to get ready for swimming.
They were so excited! It was all they could talk about. We got there and when we paid our admission, they told us the youngest (Elijah-he’s 4) couldn’t go on the water slide alone, but Cam could (he’s 7). This was fine with Elijah, he could go, but had to have one of us with him.
We got through the locker rooms and out to the pool and swam very briefly before Cam was climbing the stairs to the slide. They had a regular slide too for the little kids, one like a backyard swing set type. Elijah went down that one, but wanted someone at the bottom to catch him. He quickly got tired of it and went to the shallow area to splash, play and swim.
Cam was going up the stairs and down the slide over and over. I went down the water slide too and once in a while I would go over and talk to Elijah, play with him and then go back to the slides. My boyfriend, Jim stayed with Elijah and played with him. There were two water slides, so Cam and I were racing to see who could get to the bottom first. We would wave over to Elijah to try to get him to come and join the fun. Elijah was afraid and wouldn’t come to the slide area. My boyfriend eventually coaxed Elijah to come over and watch us slide. They were the judges to see who came out of the chute first, me or Cam because we were still racing. There is a bridge over the bottom end of the chutes and they could see us going by on one of the curves of the slide and then a few seconds later come flying out of the chute. I have to admit–it was really fun!
Well, we got Elijah to want to try it and to his credit he got to the top of the stairs and looked afraid, but said he was ready. My boyfriend and Elijah went down one chute and Cam and I went down the other one. The kids would lay on top of us as we went down. Jim sat up the first time with Elijah because you go slower. Cam and I were at the bottom of the chute, in the pool, waiting for them. When they got to the bottom, we were clapping and cheering and they were all smiles! Elijah couldn’t wait to get up the stairs and go again. We must have went down the slides 30 times. Sometimes I would go with Elijah, most times with Cam and sometimes alone. After a few times Elijah wanted to go faster and faster, Jim would lay on his back with him, going as fast as they could. They even beat Cam and I to the bottom a few times!
I think Elijah is like many Christians are. Jesus says “Come with Me. There’s nothing to fear, I will be with you and hold you through the entire experience. You will discover it’s not as you think and you will find joy.”
We can sit on the sidelines and watch other people serve and obey God, walking with Jesus every step of the way. We see the joy on their face and the thrill that ministry and serving gives them in their lives, and yet we’re afraid to climb the steps. We watch on the side of the pool as the Holy Spirit nudges us. Then we get ready for a risk and go down the small slide. Eventually we go to the bridge and watch as the Holy Spirit nudges us again. We pray, Jesus assures us He will be right there every second of the trip and still we hesitate. Finally we climb the stairs, still afraid we sit on Jesus’ lap and take the trip down the slide. We get to the bottom and what do you think? We loved it, it was not what we thought it would be at all! We found joy and relaxation, in fact serving in a ministry with and for Jesus is thrilling! There is a real satisfaction, and we feel closer to Jesus because we trusted, obeyed and stepped out. Now, we find we can’t wait to serve Him again. We climb those steps and this time, we lay down on Jesus’ chest and take a bigger risk, a larger thrill and more joy! We will never be asked to do anything for Jesus that we can’t handle, and He will never leave us or forsake us.
For God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. (I will) not. (I will) not, (I will) not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let (you) down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not! Hebrews 13:5b
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will not fail you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5
I don’t know about you, but I think I’m going to try to stay off the side lines and get in the action. Life with Jesus is more satisfying and rewarding than I ever guessed. Serving Him and serving others brings joy into my life. When another person finds victory in their life or meets Jesus for the first time all of heaven rejoices! Step out and be part of the rejoicing!