Sitting poolside on vacation, I watched two little girls swimming like fish. At one point, I noticed the older girl helping her sister float. It brought to mind a reflection I read by Fr. Thomas Green about swimming versus floating, with regard to our spiritual lives.

“If we want to reach a goal that we ourselves have chosen, we would be well advised to learn to swim rather than to float. The swimmer is intensely active and is going someplace; the floater yields to the flow of the water and savors fully being where he is. He, too, is going someplace, but that is the concern of the current which carries him. His major decision is whether to trust the tide. If he does not, he must guide himself by his swimming strokes; if he does, he can relax and surrender himself solely to the tide, and live fully in the present moment.”

Fr. Green concludes by saying, “…we must decide whether we want to swim or float.” His teaching helps me to recognize that in periods of suffering, God is striving to make floaters out of swimmers. We cannot swim endlessly, eventually we tire and must float. And once we learn that the tide can carry us up and down through waves of all sizes, floating becomes a more peaceful and reliable method to weather the storm than trying to stroke and kick our way through unchartered waters.

We all know many people who are very sick or dying or dealing with other types of great suffering. Some choose to swim frantically; others to glide peacefully. I have seen many parishioners deal very well through great suffering because they trusted the direction of God’s waters. I have learned much by watching these men and women trust the tide. Trusting leads us the way that Jesus has chosen for us which is always superior to our own way.

Scripture: Read Isiah 43:2. Have you recognized God with you in your deep waters?

Call to Action: Become conscious of God’s desire for you to surrender to his tide. Pray about how you can be more trusting.