In the Dailies

Puddle Jumping

September 12, 2008

It rained much the first half of our vacation. We didn’t mind because the storms were mostly at night. You know the kind: a beautiful display of power and nature; the rhythmic pelting of raindrops against our roof and windows. We slept soundly. We woke to dozens of puddles. The private lanes that brought us there, rutted and narrow, were now spotted with reflecting pools. Zach was thrilled!

It was chilly, but having nothing else to do, we decided to walk the beach. This was the first time Zach had been to the ocean since he started walking. (You may remember he didn’t walk until the summer he turned two.) I was excited to see his reaction. He and Ellie were both delighted with every little treasure they found: rocks, shells, seaweed, sand. And then we reached the water’s edge.

Ellie, Rick and I went right for it, touching the cold surf with our toes, catching the ocean breeze on our faces. It was great! I turned around to find Zach ankle-deep in a puddle behind us. He laughed and splashed and ran back and forth through it. We stood on the edge of one of the earth’s largest bodies of water and yet Zach couldn’t care less. All he wanted was his puddle. And he was perfectly happy with it. He was content to be a puddle jumper.

My family is in Kentucky. You can’t fly there without taking a puddle jumper. You know, the little planes that barely seat twenty people. Why do we call them “puddle jumpers?” They never get too high and are never in the air for too long. They just go from one small thing to another. That was Zach, jumping from one small thing to another.

I watched him delight in his puddle with the whole ocean just steps away. We urged him to try it, just get a little closer. We knew he would absolutely love it, but he resisted. He was comfortable with what he had already found.

I have two thoughts on this. First, sometimes it’s really good to be content. We don’t always need that bigger house or the more expensive clothes. We don’t always need to dive into something new. The ocean can be dangerous, especially for a little guy who hasn’t yet learned to swim. The tides can pull you in and under before you know it. Sometimes it’s best to be thrilled with a puddle.

But sometimes we are so content with our puddles — our little, comfortable belongings and lifestyles — that, even though we’re standing right next to it, we never jump in the ocean. We never take the risk and, as a result, we miss out on something so much greater.

So, what is God calling you to do? Is He asking you to be a joyous puddle-jumper? Or is He trying to show you the ocean? Is He, like a loving father, promising His protection and guidance if you’ll only jump in?

Entry Filed under: Father,contentment,courage. .