Out of Deep Unordered Water

As I sit on the beach this water theme keeps playing in my head.  On July 4^th the beach is very crowded.  Rehoboth is a family kind of beach so there are lots of families, kids, couples, and multigenerational gatherings.

On one side of us is a family of four, the parents and their girls, who look to be about 4 and 6.  Lucy grabs a bucket a runs toward the waters edge.  Mom starts screaming, “Lucy!  Get away from that water right now!”  For hours the girls want to play in the water and mom refuses to allow it.  “It is not safe.”  “You might drown.”  “It is too dangerous.”  Finally, Dad comes and wants the girls to go into the ocean with him.  They scream and yell and refuse.  They are now terrified of the water and what it might do to them.

On the other side a dad and his son (who looks about 5) are playing together in the sand just where the surf comes in.  The boy begins to move away from the approaching waves but Dad holds his hand and says, “It is ok.  I will hold you and you will be fine.”  The boy moves from terror to shear joy in a matter of moments because dad is with him, holding him and assuring him.

Water can be fun and exciting and life giving.  It can also be very frightening and destructive.  The scripture talks about the great flood and the stormy sea.  But it also talks of the waters of life.  As you read scripture pay attention to the wells.  Whenever there is a well in a story God’s presence is about to be experienced by someone.

The water is a great symbol for God’s presence in so many ways.  It might be interesting to think about how we learned to fear the water or to respect and enjoy the water.  How did we learn to fear God?  How about respect and enjoy God?  Did someone yell at you and tell you to be careful or did someone take you by the hand and walk in with you slowly and patiently?

I cannot get this hymn out of my head.  I have been singing it since the first day on Montreat and I find myself singing the chorus as I walk the beach each day.

There is water in the river

Bringing life to tree and plant.

Let creation praise its giver:

There is water in the font.

Hymn #494 Out of Deep Unordered Water in The Presbyterian Hymnal