Learning To Dive
We Need To Learn How To Dive Into Uncertain Futures
by Eric Elkin
“After these events, the Lord’s word came to Abram in a vision, ‘Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your protector. Your reward will be very great.”
Do you remember learning to dive? Most likely, the instructor told you to stand with your toes bent over the edge of the pool. Then you were to straighten your arms over your head and touch your hands together. Next, you were to bend your knees and lean forward. They told you to lean forward knowing your own weight would pull you towards the water.
Were you afraid when you stood on the edge of the pool those first times? To me, standing on the side of the pool was no problem. It was when we moved to the diving board that frightened me. The diving board was higher off the ground. The risk of injury was greater. It only took one failed attempt to confirm all my suspicions about potential pain.
The funniest thing, at least for me, watching other children do it with ease, only made it worse. When everyone is doing it and having fun, more attention is paid to the ones who cannot. The ones who can try to be helpful by saying, "It's easy!" But it was not easy to get over the fear. It's still not easy to get over fear as an adult.
I finally learned to dive off the diving board when I was in my 30's. When our children were old enough to learn to swim, I thought it would help us deal with fear together. Fortunately for them, they did not possess my fear. I'm thankful they helped me deal with my own. Together we learned to dive, to love, and to support each other.
“This life is like a swimming pool. You dive into the water, but you can’t see how deep it is. ”
Earlier this week, I wrote a reflection on Jesus' transfiguration in the gospel of Matthew. I focused on the words God commanded the disciples, "This is my Son...Listen to him." When I was done with the reflection something struck me about those words. The first words out of Jesus' mouth, the ones we are supposed to listen to, are, "Get up. Don't be afraid."
Intrigued by this, I decided to look up how many times this phrase is spoken in the Bible. It turns out, "Don't be afraid," appears almost 100 times. Every significant encounter with God is shaped by them. Biblical characters, like little children standing on the edge of a pool, are terrified about diving into some uncertain future. Then the voice of God or an angel of the Lord appears and says, "Don't be afraid."
I also researched the benefits of learning to swim. In one article from the Harvard Medical School, doctors noted that "being scared of the water isn't a reason not to take, or to quit, swimming lessons." While it is common to be afraid, knowing how to swim may one day save your life. This made me think, learning to dive into an uncertain future may also save our lives.
The older we get, the more we discover how little we control our own lives and the world around us. We will face situations that can paralyze us with fear. It is at these times we need to remember diving into the pool for the first time. We can do it. More importantly, we need to hear the words of God, "Don't be afraid…I am your protector." They remind us we never move into anything alone.
Click to read Genesis 15: 1-7
Reflection Questions:
What do you remember about learning to dive into a pool?
When have you been forced to cope with a fear?
What helped you learn to deal with fear? Where do you still need help?
How do the words “DOn’t be afraid” make you feel?
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