The Ocean and The Drifter

I don’t know what it is about me and the ocean.

It’s like we can’t get along.

Last Sunday at church, my friend and I were remembering a time a group of us from church went on vacation. Those were fond memories.

One day, we were at the Atlantic Beach in North Carolina, and I decided to take a float out into the water. It seemed okay to do. I was on the float while the others were on the beach. Thank God, Helen and her husband Bill decided to follow me on a dinghy they brought with them while I was on my float.

I love the ocean, I could easily live on the beach. That day, we never heard the news about a hurricane coming our way. The ocean had riptides, and we didn’t know it until I got caught in it. That was the second time in my life. I had to be rescued from the ocean, both times because of hurricanes. The riptide was taking me into the ocean. I’m a very strong swimmer, but I panicked. I saw what was happening, and I saw me getting pulled in farther and farther from shore. Helen saw me and knew what was happening. She knew I was in big trouble. She jumped in the water, right into the riptide to save me.

At this point, I was exhausted from trying to swim against the riptide. She knew I was panicking and took control. Thank God. She yelled at me and threatened to punch me if I didn’t listen to her. We still laugh about that day.

She managed to bring us back to shore but miles away from where we were, and we drifted into a pier, where sharks tended to be in. That was because fishermen fished from the top of the pier, and sharks followed the fish. When we finally came on shore we were exhausted. We just laid on that sand thanking God we didn’t drown. We had our own alleluia and praise worship service. Then, we had to walk back to our hotel, a few miles away. That’s how far we were carried. I still remember all the things we said about who GOD was on that walk back.

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“For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away from the truth.” Hebrews 2:1

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It reminded me of the conversation we had on Sunday and my riptide experience. You see, it was my fault getting caught in it. I saw the ocean looked fine, but I could only see how far my natural eyes could see. In other words, I was clueless to what was happening a few miles ahead in the ocean. There was a hurricane brewing, causing dangerous riptides. In addition, the only thing I was interested in was the music on the radio. I never bothered to hear the weather report. Hey, it was nice and sunny out, my eyes only could see the sun, and it felt good, not realizing, “Looked good and felt good” would get me into big trouble-enough trouble to have lost my life!

This passage becomes so clear as I compare it to my almost drowning experience for the second time in my life. We tend to drift from spiritual truth too. We must pay close attention to GOD’s warning in our lives that would bring us down. We can’t drift away if we know the truth. We wouldn’t drift away if we pay attention to the people who jump into our lives to save us. Helen was very strong in quickly saying, “Stop fighting the riptide, and let me take you in.” And when I was not listening to her, causing her and I to drown she had to say, “Teresa, I’m warning you, if you don’t cut it out I’m going to punch you!” Thank God she said that. I preferred the punch instead of drowning! Rather a black and blue than code blue and dead!

Thank God I listened to her, and I lived to talk about it. Had I not listened, eventually she would have to have let go of me because I would have caused her to drown too. Are you hearing what I’m saying today? When you find people who truly care about you don’t be foolish. Listen and follow the godly advice.

Final point, we drifted in an area were sharks tend to be in. Helen was telling me she was there last month, standing in the area we had been drifted to, standing right at that pier, and there had been a shark attack. She was telling me she was remembering how GOD protected us not just from drifting and drowning in the ocean but also from possible shark attack that we had drifting into another dangerous place.

Friends, take notice today. Be sure you're not drifting. If you are blessed with friends who truly care about you and are there to save you, forgive me for saying it this way but don’t be a stupid jerk. Listen up, and allow them to bring you back to safety. Get out of the riptides and shark-infested oceans of lies,and deceptions. “Pay close attention to the truth so you will not drift away!”

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me warnings in Your Word to keep me on Your paths of righteousness. You, O God, are my Lord and my Guide, and Your Words are Truth and Life. Let me never drift away from You, but help me to always remain steadfast in obedience to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles