“We need a church capable of walking at people's side, of doing more than simply listening to them; a church that accompanies them on their journey; a church able to make sense of the "night" contained in the flight of so many of our brothers and sisters from Jerusalem; a church that realizes that the reasons why people leave also contain reasons why they can eventually return.”
Pope Francis
Our older girls may as well have gills. They live for the summer especially for the pool and the ocean. Desperate to try out their new boogie boards they got at Christmas, I am not sure the car even came to a complete stop in the Outer Banks before they were in the water looking for waves. As I watched them, I could not believe the waves they were letting go by. They were perfect. Jumping into dad mode, I began coaching from the shoreline by telling them how to position themselves, debriefing their timing, and alerting them to be ready. “You’re missing all these perfect waves,” I exclaimed. Looking back with exasperation, Annie yelled back, “Dad, the waves look different from where you’re standing. When you catch one, then tell me they’re perfect.”
As the waves crept up to my feet, I thought about how often I observe a situation and declare so many “missed opportunities” from a vantage point that does not appreciate the currents that may be pulling someone in a different direction. As a disciple looking to share the Good News, do I simply shout the Gospel from the beach, or do I swim out and accompany someone on the ride into shore? Do I comment on how to ride the wave or do I model how to do it? As of that moment, I was only willing to get my feet wet, so I thought it prudent to keep my mouth shut. Good luck riding your waves in this week.
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