First You Have to Get Out of The Boat

This passage, from Matthew (14: 25-29) was part of the gospel reading a few weeks ago.  A couple of nights later, at Vestry Meeting, Fr. Howard reminded us that faith (and strength and motivation and many things in life — I'm extrapolating here) wax and wane, but first you have to get out of the boat.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.

Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

I've been afraid to get out of the boat, afraid to write anything because I didn't really know what face I wanted to present to the world, and as a result, even when I do write, things get all jumbled up. Best to just plunge in.  The point of a personal blog is that it is personal.  It doesn't have to be soul-searching, nor does it have to be polished and perfected, beautifully written, or profound.  It just has to be out there.

I'm getting out of the boat.