An opportunity, an invitation

THIS WEEK’S WINNER

MANILA, Philippines - Claribel Lim Amihan, 45, finished both her undergraduate (BS Family Life and Child Development) and graduate (Med Guidance and Counseling) degrees at the University of the Philippines. She and her best friend are currently setting up School Without Borders, a home education program, which will start its operation by SY 2011-2012.

We all desire to do something that would make others exclaim, “Wow!” The need to go beyond the common and mundane to do and experience that “wow” moment burns in most of us.

This book is about a “wow” moment. Walking — something so trite and ordinary — gets transformed into something extraordinary. When one does the walking on water, in the middle of a storm, and in spite of fear, then walking definitely qualifies as a wow moment.

We know that we go through life only once so we want to make this one count. John Ortberg’s book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of The Boat, is a trumpet call, an invitation to all water-walkers and water-walker wannabes. It’s an invitation to those who long to experience the “wow” moment.

The boat was far out to sea when the wind came and they were battered by the waves. At about 4 a.m. Jesus came toward the disciples walking on water. They were scared! “A ghost!,” they       cried out in terror.

Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

“Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.”  (From The Message, Book of Matthew, Chapter 14, Verses 24 to 29.)

Twelve disciples. Only one walked on water. Eleven stayed in the boat. If you were there, would you? It would really be tough to attempt to walk on water when the sun is out and the water is still. Imagine doing it amid the crashing waves and the lashing rain! Peter got out of the boat. He walked on water. He had a “wow” moment. Peter did it. You and I can do it, too!

Surprisingly, wow moments are really not that few and far between. Wow moments can happen every day. Ortberg states: “Water-walking is as real and possible today as it was during Peter’s time. And, you don’t even need water to do it!”

The water comes in different forms. And so does the boat. If water-walking means turning your back on a lucrative career in favor of a more meaningful one, then you have to jump out of the boat called success and money. If your “wow” moment is to make that final step that will free you from a damaging, unhealthy relationship, then it calls for stepping out of the boat of co-dependence and false security. Water-walking can be admitting that it’s your fault even though losing face may just be one of the many negative consequences. If that is so then you are being called to leave the boat of pride and the need to get the approval of others.

The list of water-walking events for contemporary Peters can go on and on. You become a water-walker when you jump out of the boat of popularity and adamantly refuse to give in to “wrong” as you stay steadfast on the “right.” Your “wow” moment may be packaged as you choose to remember and to follow the holy words of The One who is faithful even when doing so causes you to put your reputation, your safety, your family and even your life on the line.

It changes you, all these water-walking experiences. You never go back to who you were after that “wow” moment. You evolve! You change!

Water-walkers conquer fear. By shoving fear aside, fear ceases to dictate on them, to control them. They move on and move up even when they feel fear because fear does not have a grip on them.

Water–walkers live and grow. They don’t just exist and consume oxygen. They embrace life and meet challenges head-on. They rise above circumstances. They do not allow situations, events and conditions to dictate on how they feel and what their reactions are. They use their talents and take delight on the fact that their skills and abilities allow them to lift others up. Meaning and purpose are intertwined in their lives.

Water-walkers like themselves better. Thus, they like others (even the non-water-walkers) as well. As they conquer fear and discover that their lives are relevant, they gain victory over themselves and live in harmony with others.

You might ask why did Peter water-walk while the rest boat-sat? Was Peter more religious than the 11? Perhaps, more favored than the rest?

No, Ortberg states that Peter recognized that that moment was an opportunity for growth. And he decided not to let that “wow” opportunity pass him by. We have to take note though that Peter’s decision was not based on impulse. When Peter said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water,” it was an acknowledgement that an opportunity to water-walk should be based on the nature of Him who is faithful. Peter clearly identified the opportunity and the invitation.

You might further ask, is water-walking just a once-in-a-lifetime experience or are we called to be frequent water-walkers? Is our life supposed to be punctuated by wow moments? Did Peter walk on water again? After reading the book, a friend and I reached the same set of questions. We found the answer by looking at Peter’s life. Thus, we can say: Yes, several times, in fact! Remember, Peter was a fisherman. He was uneducated. But Peter’s constant decision to grab the opportunity to grow led to more water-walking moments. Peter became the recognized leader among Jesus’ disciples. He wrote two books in the New Testament. Unschooled Peter became one of the first great preachers of the gospel. After his first-ever preaching, 3,000 people believed in his message of salvation! For me, that’s considered water running!

The call for water-walkers is a constant call. We are invited and we are given the opportunity to live by those “wow” moments. To quote John Ortberg’s closing statements: “He (Jesus) is still looking for people who will refuse to allow fear to have the final word. He is still looking for people who refuse to be deterred by failure. He is still passing by. This is your chance of a lifetime. It is time to do something religious. Just remember one thing: If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.”