"INTERESTING, INTRIGUING"

“INTERESTING, INTRIGUING”

With growing and transitioning from adolescence or ‘youthhood’ to adulthood comes the urge to be with and talk with someone who is loving and caring like a mum, buddy, father, mentor or counselor depending on what kind of relationship has been built over the years. This is a challenging but necessary and an important phase of life that if ignored or not well handled, could result in casualties and disastrous consequences such as pain, regrets and destruction of one’s youthfulness and future. If corrective measures are not well or immediately taken, it can lead to a blurred future or adult life. Scripture summarizes this episode as "…evil communication corrupts good manners." (1 Corin 15:33). This intimates that with worthy and proper communication comes uplifting, encouragement and shaping of dreams and visions. It inspires and empowers birthing and nursing of great ideas and future greatness.

Corie (not actual name) had many things on her mind after her plan of hoping to travel back to her home country, being international student in another country, did not materialize. At least going home would have given her companionship from mum, dad and other close relatives and childhood friends. She could have also received inspiration from change in environment and pick on some new ideas from her home environment. However, with frustrations of being unable to advance her plans to the next level, her mind picked on another thought of who to settle with in future considering that her age is ticking like the second arm of a surgical theater clock. At the same time, changes in school calendar and the need to adjust her mind to align her body to a new wake up time was demanding. The change in weather did not spare either. The attempt to manage all these activities at the same time weighed her down and she was fatigued. Her breathe was sucking like swimming in the middle of the sea.

In moments when we seem to be down and lacking breathe to go on in life, many voices may crave our attention. Eve was alone in the Garden of Eden. The garden was so big, well-spaced and well dressed. She had everything necessary for good living at the time. The beauty of the Garden could not escape the eyes as it soothes the eyes and mind: a real natural therapeutic effect for a wandering and disturbed mind. However, Eve felt the loneliness and aloneness of the moment because Adam had consumed himself with working the garden. Her mental excursions could go far beyond the frontiers of the garden. This kind of situation gives opportunity because they serve as an open door to any kind of conversation that has the potency to change the course of our lives. Amnon (one of David’s sons) felt lonely and desperate although he was living in the palace, and this opened an opportunity for evil and destructive advice from his close buddy, which resulted in raping of his half-sister, Tamar, and his murder  two years after. Nonetheless, the loneliness of Paul and Silas as a result of being incarcerated in a prison that was guarded by four quaternions of soldiers (four gates each manned by four soldiers) stirred them to seek God in an unusual style. They obtained deliverance and freedom. In times of Timothy’s aloneness as a young minister in Ephesus, he encouraged himself with advices he had gleaned from Paul, his god-father and mentor, even though they were far apart.

In the case of Corie, her mentor came through to her during these times, enquiring about her total welfare. “…I’ve just been praying about stuff I shared with you last time and getting God to show me beyond what I feel. To trust that He is on time and in control of my life" was her response that confirmed the action she took, knowing that God has answers to everything that crashes us or beats our imagination. She was told by her mentor, “Take it easy…it’s one day at a time.” As the song writes,

“Never failed me yet (x2),

Jesus Christ has never failed me yet.

There’s one thing I know; everywhere I go,

Jesus Christ has never failed yet.”

Her response to this piece of song was apt: “Yes, learning to take it easy and breathing.” This was touching and revealing as her mentor told her “That’s SWIMMING FAITH.” Huh! “Swimming faith? What does it mean?” she quizzed. Her mentor continued, “When swimming, you can't breathe normally but you must still have a breathing strategy. So learning to take it easy and breathing is SWIMMING FAITH.”

At this point she got the understanding that in life we do not always get things or do things the normal way. And that struggling at some points in life should only give us the idea to devise survival strategies because life will always have ups and downs. Life has several meanderings and intricacies that only the skillful can maneuver. More so, Jesus did not promise anyone problem free life in this world. We might be lost at sea without any deep knowledge or strategies to swim to shore. However, since we can’t look on whiles our lives perish, we’ve got to someway somehow maneuver our ways through the storms and strong waves of the seas.  We might be swimming but in reality, Jesus will always hold us above the waters on the wings of His Spirit. His Word says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isa 43:2). Indeed, “…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  (Matt 28:20). He did not allow Peter to drown on the sea even though the later doubted. Paul faced a terrible ship wreck situation, but God did not allow destruction on the life of Paul and those on the ship. Being troubled at the boisterous nature of the sea is a normal consequence. It only shows we are human. Remember, the life of the sea is reflected in its ability to be boisterous and roll like a hungry lion that roars at its prey to tear it apart. We need to learn to trust Jesus in spite of the bad situations we see around or hear about. The billows of life will continue to roll, but we need to count on the presence of the Prince of Peace to command every storm to keep calm and be peaceful.

Corie was uplifted but alarmed at the description “Swimming Faith” of the situation she was going through. She only surmised “interesting, intriguing." She realized what great weapon she wielded. She did not need superfluous faith to go through the worries of life. A mustard-seed faith was sufficient for God to do His best in times of worse and adverse situations.  Indeed, it’s interesting and intriguing to know that God is on our side at all times. He will not fail! Amen! 

Article by:

Ernest Kwame Affum (Dr. EK)