One who trusts will not...
Illustration
"One who trusts will not panic," says Isaiah, mouthpiece for God.
When I was in seminary, I decided to learn to swim --that is, to trust the water. As a child, I had learned the mechanics of swimming. I knew the motions but only hoped that I could survive if dumped out of a boat on the pond down the hill or if pulled under by a Lake Michigan current.
In reality, I never ventured near either body of water without a life jacket. In reality, proceeding with more panic than trust, I did little more than thrash about with a stiff body and tightly held breath.
Now, swimming in an enclosed pool without fear of a Lake Michigan undertow and with an instructor close at hand, I learned to relax. The teacher said, "Don't worry about touching bottom. The water will hold you if you let it."
I soon discovered a partnership with the water. If I let go of tension in my body, the water's buoyancy took over. As I glided through the water with a smooth sidestroke, I relaxed my neck and let the water fully support my head.
I could depend upon the buoyancy of the water. It taught me about trust. Swimming became a joyful, cooperative activity.
--Brauninger
When I was in seminary, I decided to learn to swim --that is, to trust the water. As a child, I had learned the mechanics of swimming. I knew the motions but only hoped that I could survive if dumped out of a boat on the pond down the hill or if pulled under by a Lake Michigan current.
In reality, I never ventured near either body of water without a life jacket. In reality, proceeding with more panic than trust, I did little more than thrash about with a stiff body and tightly held breath.
Now, swimming in an enclosed pool without fear of a Lake Michigan undertow and with an instructor close at hand, I learned to relax. The teacher said, "Don't worry about touching bottom. The water will hold you if you let it."
I soon discovered a partnership with the water. If I let go of tension in my body, the water's buoyancy took over. As I glided through the water with a smooth sidestroke, I relaxed my neck and let the water fully support my head.
I could depend upon the buoyancy of the water. It taught me about trust. Swimming became a joyful, cooperative activity.
--Brauninger
