Grace and Little Fishes

Many moons ago, John traveled on a mission trip to Cancun, Mexico.  Yes, there was Kingdom work to be done, and we were willing to head the call.  Oh, to suffer for the gospel right?    In a sense though, we did.  We were not speaking to each other when we left the States.  We did not talk for the duration of the trip.  All of the details will not be shared here.   But we had been dating...I had big issues...He had well intentioned ultimatums...we had a fight... then we had angry silence.  Not a word. Toward the end of our stay there we enjoyed some time on a glass bottom boat, snorkeling.  We saw unparalleled beauty, and swam awestruck at the creativity of God.  Still, not a word.  The water was a little chilly.  The waves were palm but very persistent.  The sun glistened off the surface of the water when we came up from the wonderland.  I kicked my way to the ladder hanging over the edge of the boat.  And the bliss of the afternoon hit a glitch.  Try as I might, I could not climb in.  I prayed for an extra measure of strength, some divine intervention.  Still, I fought with my limbs, somewhat like an octopus on dry land.   Friends and teammates came to help.  It became a comical circus of failed attempts.  Our guides began to speak in Spanish about needing to get back to shore.  I began to contemplate the irony of being lost a sea while hanging on to a perfectly good boat.   Then, he reached down with his big broad shoulders.  He wrapped me up, lifted me to safety, and handed me a towel.  We uttered no words.  Much was said in that silence. For his anger lasts only a moment,       but his favor lasts a lifetime!    Weeping may last through the night,       but joy comes with the morning.  When I was prosperous, I said,       “Nothing can stop me now!”  Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.       Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.   I cried out to you, O Lord.       I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,   “What will you gain if I die,       if I sink into the grave?    Can my dust praise you?       Can it tell of your faithfulness?  Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.       Help me, O Lord.”   You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.       You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,   that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.       O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 30
I did nothing to deserve the grace of those strong arms.  The rifts that had shattered the bond between us had not been healed at that point.  Anger, justified and understandable,  still colored our relationship.  But it could not define it.  Love and grace would overcome.  So it is with the One who chooses to rescue us from drowning in murky waters of our own broken predicaments.  He does not turn away and leave us to our own devices.  Love and grace can overcome....