Last night at youth group I took my Sr. High youth down to the beach. It was a good evening. Played some frisbee, some baseball, and just talked with one another. God had a plan for last night, one that He had laid on my heart the night before.
As we gathered up at the beach, I sent the youth off on their own, pen and paper in hand. Their mission was simple, “Find something here at the beach/pier, that reminds your or symbolizes where you are in your walk with God.” Off they went.
As the youth came meandering back, I listened to there hearts.
“I saw a hole near the shoreline. It reminded me that I dig deep when I have my friends around, but as they depart and the tides come in, my hole fills back in a little bit.”
Another says, “I saw footprints along the shore and it reminded me of walking next to something so powerful, so beautiful, so amazing.”
And yet another says, “I’m the seaweed. Just tossed and turned by the waves and yet I do nothing or offer nothing.”
The idea sprang to life from Gen. 3. God walking through the garden calling out to Adam, and Adam hiding in the trees, naked and afraid. It was a crappy moment, but it was a moment of truth, when Adam finally steps out from hiding and says, “Here I am. Here I am God, clothed with a leaf, afraid and ashamed. I messed up, but here I am…“
Last night was just that. It was a night of these youth simply saying “HERE I AM!”, and it didn’t matter where they were, it didn’t matter if the were naked and afraid or closer than they had ever been with God. They came forward and said, “Here I am. See me for where I’m at Lord”
It was a moment of truth, a moment of boldness, an open invitation to God.
I got some real life, honest answers of where people were in their walk with Christ, and as I sit down tonight and think about my answer, I realize that I may be hanging on by a thread.
My answer, “I am the bobber, set between the hook and the fishermen on the pier. My place in life has me set as the warning, as the wake up call to those around me that the fish is biting, that God is at the other end of your line waiting for you to reel Him in! See me and know that He is there on your hook, won’t you just bring him in??”
This was my answer, and it is far from a lie. I do feel that way, but tonight I feel as though I was tied on with only a 2lb test compared to 30lb flourocarbon.
I love the fall. Fall brings in cold waters, makes for cool crisp mornings, and brings days where it is comfortable to wear jeans. I love the fall, it brings Pumpkin patches, starry nights, and and cool nights. I love the fall yet, I am terrified that I am going to cool off too. Last year I was galivanting round the world in pursuit of Christ! This year, back in Venice. That 2lb test seems as though it just won’t hold.
I need that all consuming fire daily in my life. I need prophecy and encouragement. I need to be that man that I was one year ago and continue to press into the heart of God. I know what I need! Now, I need to do it.
So this is my cry. This is my cry out for the words God is speaking over me. Ask Him what He is saying over me, and help strengthen the line in which I cling dearly too.
~William Diefenbach
