Ruthie was afraid to swim...

Ruthie never thought she’ll be afraid to dive in the water. For some years now, Ruthie has been acting cool not being able to have a taste of the ocean nor the pool that was once hers. She was once a swimmer and has always loved swimming. She lived in complete contentment just by jumping over from that springboard as she gracefully launches her stroke. Ruthie loved the water so much. She was a pro in this field.

Years went by and new opportunities happen, swimmers came and swimmers go until she realized that this sport is way past behind her. She sobbed for sometime as she lets go of the one true thing that matters to her heart. In prayer, she heard the Lord leading her to other sports that would need her expertise. Younger swimmers came and Ruthie knew it was time to give them the stage.

Ruthie took on her new career with much hope and enthusiasm. Having developed strong legs and arms all through her swimming career, Ruthie was now running and climbing. She bravely traversed every road and the once watery arena that she conquered was changed into fields of stones and concretes and other earthly substance. More so, she was teaching others to properly do the same. Ruthie equipped herself and mastered in this field. She was not just a runner or a climber… she became a mentor and teacher to others. She became a pro in this field.

Years and years passed. Never did Ruthie expect an opportunity to once dive in would come. But this could be the last dive of her life. The last swim she’ll ever take. But there is a hitch before she can make her stroke. She has to wait and train and practice discipline again for some time. She’ll be part of a team that she totally haven’t met before. To win, she has to go through the same rigid training she once was threading through when she was a star swimmer athlete. Victory would mean a coveted swimmer athlete award. Only the fittest swimmers can go through this. Only those with tough swimming experience.

Ruthie said yes to the challenge. But she almost dragged herself to go through days of warm up and required preps. She was almost hesitant to go through this same, pressuring, hard-knock training in swimming. But something tells her this victory might be hers. As she started her swim routines, Ruthie was dumbfounded looking at the water beneath the springboard. Ruthie cannot dive in. Her knees shook and inside her, she knew she was scared. It was still part of the training process but she can’t start. She was too afraid. It felt that as if it is the first time. Ruthie, for the first time didn’t know how to swim.

She forced herself to jump in but every movement in the water was out of whack. Ruthie made a mess.

Before she continued the training process, Ruthie visited her old coach. She knew she had to do this before she ruins what could be her last opportunity to swim. She told him she never thought she would ever be this fearful to dive in. It’s been years.

What the coach told Ruthie shook her off her reverie.

“God’s way with us is to move us from dependence and immaturity to responsibility. There are no soft options in this journey.”* He told Ruthie that she has received many blessings in the swimming field way back and even in her marathons and climbing expeditions and even in touching other people’s lives. But now, she must joyfully accept the difficulties of training and discipline again in order to be transformed into a much greater swimmer.

And her mentor added…

Difficulty from the hand of a loving God is but a future blessing in disguise.*

Hebrews 10:36 says, You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

After cries and pleas in prayer, Ruthie felt she could somehow jump in. Her knees still shake. There is even a new fear of drowning. She knew this couldn’t be her field anymore but she saw this training as another way to transform her. That could be the victory she can achieve.

Though with feeble hands and bones, and fearful eyes, with God’s hand guiding her… Ruthie thinks she will be able to dive in. And that alone is her victory. J

“You have granted me many blessings; now let me also accept what is hard from your hand.”

 Prayer from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

* Coach’s words are from Charles Ringma, Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.