20 seconds in the water

I felt a need to follow up from yesterday's post after today's events......no, not Phelps winning another gold; although, that is an amazing accomplishment- 22 medals, 18 gold.


But that's not it.
Today was the annual Back to School Ski Day for the youth. I've only been twice. I wasn't planning on getting on a boat, much less in the water. I wasn't dressed to swim, but since my own kids were going tubing, I decided to ride along and watch them. We'd been out for a while, and stopped for the kids to take a break and just swim. As I sat near the edge of the boat, Jason (along with Danielle), gave me a push into the water. I was half expecting it, yet didn't really think they would do it, since I was fully clothed and not wearing a swimsuit.
I think I went in screaming at them. It felt like I was taking forever to come back up and I guess I panicked and got water in my nose or mouth and could not catch my breath as I came up. I was also worried about losing my contacts. Jason yelled "Are you ok?" and I shook my head no.
Thankfully, he jumped in to help me get back to the boat.
I can swim, although I don't very often. I always have to hold my nose whenever I do jump in- which is not very often at all! It was a scary moment; looking back I probably looked like an idiot, and felt like one too.

So, coming off of my blog last night, closing with the fact that it's time for me to get "out of the water", only to literally find myself in the water today, I thought some more about yesterday's thoughts.


What I learned today: 
We weren't made to spend our lives in the water.We don't have fins or gills. Our bodies are not capable of only functioning in the water. Sure, we may be able to float for a while, or tread water. We can enjoy swimming and water sports, but have to rest at some point. We certainly aren't made to breathe under water. If we try, we'd end up like me, choked, coughing and sputtering until someone jumps in to help us.


It further reminded me of my word from the Lord last night. We are not meant to sit around, focusing on the things of this world. We are told to "seek first the kingdom of God."  We are to be investing in what will last. 
One thing I'm reminded of that my father-in-law has said many times: "People matter to God." I need to spend more of my time investing in the lives of those around me, encouraging others, and being encouraged. I need to spend more time in prayer, in reading the Word, so I will know how to invest my time and talents wisely. I am praying the Lord daily reminds me of this. 
I wish I had a picture of me coming up out of the water- I could put it on my bathroom mirror. That would be an interesting reminder!


Sometimes we jump in on our own. Sometimes we are pushed in by those around us. But try to live there, and you'll find out very quickly that you can't. 


I'm feeling tired now. Must be from all that swimming I did today. Ha! 
Whether its 20 seconds, 20 minutes or 20 years of living in the "water," it has a way of wearing us down.


"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18

20 years in the water

I've been watching the Olympics- ok, well at least gymnastics and volleyball, some swimming and diving. The rest of it doesn't really interest me. I mean, there are some we just don't hear much about. Does anybody know who the fencing champion is? What about the best contender in the canoe sprint? No, me either.

As I watch, the first thing I think about is how I really did dream (for a short time in 1984) to be the next Mary Lou. I know now that was never even an option, as my parents sacrificed what they did have to send us to the school we attended. Gymnastics wasn't in the picture. I was a cheerleader in high school- that's as close as I got! But, a girls gotta dream, right?

But this week as I've watched- especially the swimming- I've been thinking about some things. I had said to Jason earlier in the week that Phelps came across arrogant, after hearing an interview or two. His reply was simply, "He's earned it." The greatest Olympian in history. Maybe so. After hearing more interviews, I've changed my opinion I guess.

After tonight's win of his 21st medal, 17 of which are GOLD, I looked up a little history on Phelps. I found out he'd been swimming since he was seven years old. 

He's spent 20 years of his life, give or take some days, in the water. Hours and hours of training, I'm sure getting up early, sacrificing who knows what- probably nothing close to what most would call a normal life. And all for what? Well, 21 Olympic medals so far.

Probably the same could be said for any athlete there competing- a lot of time and energy put into that one goal.

They invest all of their lives trying to attain the gold.

But even as Tim Daggett commentated the USA women's gymnastics team receiving their medals, he said himself that it was just a blur to him now, having also received a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

I'm not bashing the Olympics or dreaming dreams. I'm a teacher. Of course I want children to have goals and see some dreams come true. 

In the eternal scheme of things, it's all for naught. As I was thinking about this, and just thinking of Phelps, "Well, he's laying up for himself treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupts," the Lord spoke to me. Yes, right there on our futon after watching Michael win. Don't you just love it when He does that? He put me in my place, I tell ya!

Here is what He said: How much time have you spent in the "water," Jennifer? How much of your life have you spent striving for this or that, which makes no eternal difference whatsoever? How much time and energy have you wasted on a "title" or a "record" or recognition for something that basically doesn't amount to a hill of beans? How much money have you spent (ouch!) on stuff instead of souls? How much time have I slept away, watched away, or googled away?  I can tell you I'm sure I've spent way more time on the temporal than I have the eternal. I'm sure I have missed out on plenty of opportunities to minister because I was too caught up in whatever my "gold goal" was at the time.

I don't know what Michael will find himself doing after these Olympics are over. As for me, maybe it's time to get out of the water. 

Matthew 6:19-20- "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Another thing I've thought about while watching the Olympics: How long does it take these commentators learn how to pronounce all these names?