It was a stormy night. The sea was angry, throwing up irate waves high and livid enough to devour anything in its path. Trapped in its predatory belly was a group of fishermen, huddled fearfully, in their small boat, which was being tossed and turned according to the whims of the sea. They were clutching their frightened hearts in their hands. They were at the mercy of a furious Mother Nature. All they wished for was to be back home safely.
In the midst of all this frenzy there was a figure walking on water. They couldn’t believe their eyes. It was walking towards them, steadily and serenely on the vehement waves. “Ghost, ghost,” they cried.
And the figure on the water spoke, “Take courage. It is I, do not be afraid.” It was God.
The men in the boat grew numb and silent. They didn’t believe a word of what they thought was the ghost of a raving lunatic –“who else would choose a night like this to go for a stroll on the ocean!”
But amongst them there was one fisherman who was different. He stood up, unsteadily, clutching his twittering heart, he said, “If you are really God, then make me to come to you –walking on water.”
His friends thought that he had lost his mind. “Shhhhh….sit down,” hissed one. “Are you mad?” cried another. “Why on earth would you want to walk on those raging waves, what purpose will it serve?” asked yet another. But the extraordinary fisherman knew what he wanted –he wanted to walk on water! He wished to do the impossible. He dared to do the impossible. So, he called out again. “God, if it is really, really, you then tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” said God
The crazy fisherman stepped out of the boat, in the middle of a storm, with his friends watching him aghast. He slowly and steadily walked on the stormy waters towards the figure that was beckoning him.
He was shocked to see what he was able to do. His ability and capability took him by surprise for never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would one day walk on water. He was exhilarated. He was amazed at his own power.
However, after a few minutes, doubts began to creep in. “What if I am unable to complete my journey?” thought the fisherman. “What will happen to me? Oh my God, I will drown and be lost in the humungous waves forever; buried in the sea bed for infinity….I will never get to see my family and friends…”
Doubts began gnawing at him vigorously. “I know I wanted to walk on water but was it right on my part to get off the boat? I should’ve thought about it some more before stepping off the boat. Why did I do it?” he chided himself. Suddenly, he was more afraid of the waves –it appeared more threatening and menacing to him than it did a few minutes ago. As he let his fears and doubts grow bigger than him he began to sink. He cried, “God save me…” Immediately, God reached out to the fisherman and caught him. “Why do you doubt?” God asked.
For me there are three important points that stand out in this story.
Firstly, the fisherman dared to do the impossible. He wanted to do something in life, which his friends hadn’t even dreamed of. And HE GRABBED THE first available opportunity thrown at him.
Secondly, once he began his journey he allowed self-doubts and fear to kill his adventurous spirit. I can relate to that and so can many others.
But, what he did next was what made this fisherman successful, for the Bible says, that this fisherman later went on to become a great leader in the world.
When he knew he was sinking, when he was struggling in his journey, he cried out for help. “Help me, please!”
Some of us don’t realize that it is okay to cry out for help. Seeking help is part of our journey in life, an important ritual that serves well in attaining our goals in life. All we have to do is ask, ask and ask again!
I find asking for help, the most difficult part of life. It makes you feel like a failure. It magnifies your weaknesses a hundred fold. Seeking help does not come naturally to many. Some feel that the very act of asking for a little help to achieve their goals takes something away from their achievements.
As writer Paulo Coelho mentioned, when we want something in life, the whole universe and God will conspire to give it to us. But everything depends on how badly we want it. If we do want it badly enough, then we should not hesitate to ask boldly, “Please, help me.”
In the midst of all this frenzy there was a figure walking on water. They couldn’t believe their eyes. It was walking towards them, steadily and serenely on the vehement waves. “Ghost, ghost,” they cried.
And the figure on the water spoke, “Take courage. It is I, do not be afraid.” It was God.
The men in the boat grew numb and silent. They didn’t believe a word of what they thought was the ghost of a raving lunatic –“who else would choose a night like this to go for a stroll on the ocean!”
But amongst them there was one fisherman who was different. He stood up, unsteadily, clutching his twittering heart, he said, “If you are really God, then make me to come to you –walking on water.”
His friends thought that he had lost his mind. “Shhhhh….sit down,” hissed one. “Are you mad?” cried another. “Why on earth would you want to walk on those raging waves, what purpose will it serve?” asked yet another. But the extraordinary fisherman knew what he wanted –he wanted to walk on water! He wished to do the impossible. He dared to do the impossible. So, he called out again. “God, if it is really, really, you then tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” said God
The crazy fisherman stepped out of the boat, in the middle of a storm, with his friends watching him aghast. He slowly and steadily walked on the stormy waters towards the figure that was beckoning him.
He was shocked to see what he was able to do. His ability and capability took him by surprise for never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would one day walk on water. He was exhilarated. He was amazed at his own power.
However, after a few minutes, doubts began to creep in. “What if I am unable to complete my journey?” thought the fisherman. “What will happen to me? Oh my God, I will drown and be lost in the humungous waves forever; buried in the sea bed for infinity….I will never get to see my family and friends…”
Doubts began gnawing at him vigorously. “I know I wanted to walk on water but was it right on my part to get off the boat? I should’ve thought about it some more before stepping off the boat. Why did I do it?” he chided himself. Suddenly, he was more afraid of the waves –it appeared more threatening and menacing to him than it did a few minutes ago. As he let his fears and doubts grow bigger than him he began to sink. He cried, “God save me…” Immediately, God reached out to the fisherman and caught him. “Why do you doubt?” God asked.
For me there are three important points that stand out in this story.
Firstly, the fisherman dared to do the impossible. He wanted to do something in life, which his friends hadn’t even dreamed of. And HE GRABBED THE first available opportunity thrown at him.
Secondly, once he began his journey he allowed self-doubts and fear to kill his adventurous spirit. I can relate to that and so can many others.
But, what he did next was what made this fisherman successful, for the Bible says, that this fisherman later went on to become a great leader in the world.
When he knew he was sinking, when he was struggling in his journey, he cried out for help. “Help me, please!”
Some of us don’t realize that it is okay to cry out for help. Seeking help is part of our journey in life, an important ritual that serves well in attaining our goals in life. All we have to do is ask, ask and ask again!
I find asking for help, the most difficult part of life. It makes you feel like a failure. It magnifies your weaknesses a hundred fold. Seeking help does not come naturally to many. Some feel that the very act of asking for a little help to achieve their goals takes something away from their achievements.
As writer Paulo Coelho mentioned, when we want something in life, the whole universe and God will conspire to give it to us. But everything depends on how badly we want it. If we do want it badly enough, then we should not hesitate to ask boldly, “Please, help me.”
PS: (Am still trying to master this art...)
1 comment:
Yes but they also say that when you don't ask for it She gives you milk. When you ask for it, you get water, and when you grab it, you get blood.
Post a Comment