Drowning

There once was a young woman standing on the shore by the sea of responsibility. She got married and with that took one step into the water. In time, she had children and went a little further. As she matured God added some acts of service and she obediently stepped out a little further. The water here was warm and the waves were gentle. She was in water up to her waist and no matter how big the "surprise" waves were, she was not deep enough for them to overwhelm her. The waves of added responsibility would come for a season and would, in time, roll on. She was in a good and happy place.

One day a boat came by. The passengers asked her to come out a little deeper. "We are all going out futher. It is the right thing to do. If you don't come out and take on more you are missing out." So she walked a little deeper. Now at her shoulders, the water was more threatening, but she was still able to handle the waves and stay on her feet.

What happened next is very sad. As life rolled on the woman was called further and further into the ocean of responsibility. Her children aged and sent her out, asking for more and more. Her husband headed out to deeper water so she swam deeper to meet him because she loved him so much. She looked out and saw friends farther out and was embarassed to be in a different place so she went deeper, forgetting they were built taller and could handle a different amount of water.

She began to dog paddle. Never letting on that she no longer even remembered what the ocean floor felt like.

With water up to her mouth, she would push up for air occasionally and then sink back down. She became concerned, but she was still able to stay alive, so she dismissed her nagging fears.
As she pushed up for air one day, she heared a voice calling for help. Looking around she watched in horror as a dear friend went under the water. Feeling desperate to help, she reached out and tipped the friend's head back and held her face out of the water so she could breathe. As the friend recovered, the woman tried to let go and go back to dog paddling herself, but immediately the friend cried out again saying, "no one has ever held my head like you, please stay. Plus, you were so wonderful I brought my friend over for you to hold, too."

Dog paddling madly, occasionally pushing up for air, and holding the faces of friends in her hands the woman carried on. She lived moment by moment meeting whatever responsibility swelled the highest over her, and threatened to crash down over her head. As fatigue set in the woman looked back at the shore and wished she never had gotten in the water. Every time she tried to back out of some of the responsibilities she was only pulled deeper in. Feeling hopeless she had no energy to truly love her husband, children or friends. Every time God called and tried to help her toward her created destiny, she would cry out that she didn't have room for one more inch of responsibility. She began to resent every one around her for weighing her down and was angry that God refused to pluck her out. The only options she could see were to stay and drown as her strength ebbed, or to abandon everything and swim like mad for the shore.

While she wept and wondered what to do, she heard a voice calling. Looking over her shoulder she saw the Coast Guard life boat coming toward her. On it's bow stood the Prince of Peace. He yelled out a message promising life full of peace and abundance in exchange for obedience. Laughing cynically she turned and ignored him. After all she was too deep doing good things to accept the Great Thing being offered. Ever persisent the boat followed as she was tossed in the waves. The Prince said, "My father never intended for this to happen. You made decisions that drew you out too deep. The plans he had for you were for a future and a hope, but you added so much to them that you no longer can obey. Let go, take my hand, and I will carry you back to where the water is warm and is safely around your waist."

"No" cried the woman. She was afraid to let go. If she took the Prince's hand the friends would drown. If she allowed him to take her in, her husband and children would be out here alone.

With sweet compassion, the Prince looked down and said, "You have been deceived. Though at first they may be hurt, the friends will not drown, they will follow you onto my boat. And sweet one, you have failed to notice, but your children are playing on the shore free of responsibility and your husband, being taller, is standing securely in the place I have for him." As she glanced around with eyes opened to the truth, she was overwhelmed by the possibility of going back to a healthy amount of responsibility. The thought tasted like sweet freedom.

"Let go, take my hand, and obey."

And with much fear and trembling she did. All around her the people left alone in the water cried out in anger. "How dare you leave us. You are not following God. You are a failure. You are a quitter..." Turning fearful eyes to the Prince she noticed that his were full of admiration. "Well done my good and faithful servant. You obeyed me"

On the trip toward the shore, the woman asked, "can I just go to the shore and play all day with my children? Can't I take a break from all responsibility?"

"No, dear one. Responsibility is right and healthy at your age. It will lead you great fullfillment. The key is having the correct responsibility."

"How will I do that. I was drawn out once, what if I go out again. How do I respond as people try to call me out?"

"You don't listen to anyone but my father. He has a plan for you that will fill you with joy and abundance. If you will only do what he comands, you will be able to stand firmly in the sea of responsibility all the days of your life."

"But how do I answer others when they call?"

"Friend, let me teach you a magic word. If you use it sweetly with others, it will keep you firmly where my father wants you. If you don't use it with others, though, you will be tempted to start using it with my father again, and you will drown."

"What is it? It must have so much power. I can't believe there is just one word with so much authority. Please tell me!"

"The word is... No. If you are asked to do something that my father has not called you to, just say no. You can also use, I can't or I won't be able to. Sometimes people are hard of hearing, but give no excuses that will give them ground to argue. Just say no and keep saying no until they understand that you live a life controlled by my father. They won't be happy, so don't look at them for your safety. Just look at me."

And amazingly the woman obeyed and, therefore, lived happily ever after.