where waves grow sweet

Chase, our three year old, has been taking swimming lessons for several months. One of the first things done by his swim instructor, Robert, was to take him underwater to let him get a feel for it; particularly that point at which he could feel the water “hold” him. As Chase was learning to swim a few feet on his own, he would sometimes forego his calm, confident “push-arounds” for a frantic, flailing sort of motion. Robert would talk him through the stroke, reminding him how he had learned to push the water, and provide physical support as reassurance before letting him try solo again. At the end of such lessons, I recall Robert saying that the panic was a result of Chase forgetting how to let the water hold him.

At his lesson today, his newer instructor was joking about how little energy Chase likes to expend when he swims, adding “he just likes to be held by the water.” It is true. Sure, he can paddle and kick fairly well now, but what he loves most is to float just beneath the surface with very little movement. When I once asked him what he enjoys about that, he simply said “it’s peaceful.” While I would love to see him gaining some distance in the pool, I can think of no better starting point.

We hopped in the car and I couldn’t stop thinking about the Christian life in these terms. As we are taking our own strokes in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, it is so easy to panic and flail, feeling certain that we are going to sink like a rock to the bottom of the pool, never to be heard from again. But the Holy Spirit, our instructor in this thing called life, is ever present, ensuring our safety and teaching us to swim. Rather than panicking alongside us or yanking us out of the pool, he quiets us and draws us back into that place where we can again feel – and more importantly, know – that we are held. And at some point, we will, like Chase, come to say that not only are we unafraid, but we are at peace.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26