So when my LIT ( Leader in Training) group from Medeba Adventure Learning Centre ( back then I think it was still called plain ol' Camp Medeba), started to anticipate that we were drawing near our "home" after a canoe trip that had seemed to last a lifetime, we were fully ready. The waterfront at camp was the much anticipated finish line... you can imagine how pumped we were. Our hearts were pounding and we were given'er! I think we paddled harder on those last few kilometers than we did the entire rest of the trip. I remember the canoe that I was in was somewhere in the middle of the pack, so we could see what was going in the boats ahead of us. When the first canoe rounded the last point and caught sight of the beach, a loud whoop echoed across the lake. As I picture it now, I kindda see it in slow motion. The boys dropped their paddles, threw their hands up and hurled themselves over the side of the boat. Half dragging the boat, half forgetting about it, they swam the rest of the way to the beach, and did a victory dance as they pulled up on shore. As I am sure you can imagine, in true 16 year old style, we all followed suit.
Now I'll be perfectly honest here, we had been warned. We definitely weren't supposed to jump ship, and we definitely did it anyways. In their excitement, the boys in the first boat forgot all about how they were "supposed" to act when they saw the shore. They got carried away by their emotions and let their actions express how their hearts felt. And guess what ? Their passion and willingness to follow their hearts inspired those who came behind them.
I was reading the other day in my bible (John 21) about when Jesus appears to the disciples as they are realing in the fish that he arranged for them to catch after a very fishless night. While they are still out on the water, they look at the beach and they see Jesus, though they do not immediately realize that it is Him. When it does click that it is the risen Lord, Simon Peter throws himself into the water to try and get to Jesus.
He is desperate to be with Him, and immediately lets his reaction match his heart's desire.
I started thinking about this. When I do get to the end of this life, will all the rules of bible study, all the religious practises and that we are "supposed" to do really matter ?
And what about right now, am I a boat jumper? I am without a doubt, so in love with my God, but am I allowing my actions to line up with my heart? Am I doing everything possible to be with my God?
Just as the boys in the canoe in front of us inspired us to jump ship during the memorable homecoming from an unforgettable paddling trip so many years ago, I think we have the opportunity to allow the passions for our Lord to inspire others to be "boat jumpers".
So this year, in 2014, that is my hearts desire. I long to just "Be" with my God, and to let my actions line up with my hearts desire. I want to be like Simon Peter, so desperate to be with my God that I don't hold back.
And as I do this, I want to watch for the boat jumpers around me :). Grab ...or maybe toss... your paddles, and here we go !