UNSINKABLE

I love this picture of Jesus reaching through the troubled waters...

I'm sure we've all experienced moments in life that felt like we were drowning... times when we needed someone to rescue us. 

Matthew 14:22-36 gives us Peter's unique perspective on such a rescue... a view from underneath. As he looked through the swirling water into the face of Jesus, Peter knew he was in for a good scolding. And he was right. As Jesus reached for Peter through the water I'm pretty sure He said, “Gimme your hand, ya knucklehead... oh, ye of little faith!” 

I can't help but feel sorry for Peter, bless his heart. Only seconds before, he was WALKING ON THE FREAKIN' WATER WITH JESUS. LIKE A BOSS! But all it took was a gust of wind to bring him down. Peter got scared. Freaked out. And... SPLASH!! He sank into the water like a proverbial rock. 

Over the past two thousand years, we've given Peter quite a pounding for taking his eyes off Jesus. I really think it's time to give the ol' guy a break. In all fairness, the flaw in his faith did not make Peter a failure. It made him just like us. 

Put yourself in his sandals... it had been a loooooong night... dark and stormy... crowded into a fishing boat with a dozen other men... tossed to and fro on the waves as they rowed their arms off. Cold and exhausted, they were scared completely witless when they saw a shadowy figure casually strolling by on TOP OF THE WATER. 

Not believing what he was seeing, Peter cried out into the darkness: “Hey, Jesus! Is that you out there walking on the water like a dadgum ghost? Cause if it is, hollar at me and I'll come out to you!” You gotta give Peter some points, here. He could have screamed like a little girl for Jesus to jump into the boat and rescue him. He could have begged Jesus to wave His arms and calm the storm. But no. Peter wanted to get out of the boat and GO TO JESUS. 

Jesus answered him with one word.

“COME.” 

He had to be shaking in his sandals, but Peter swung his legs over the side of that boat and stepped out in faith. BIG faith... though not big enough. Fear sunk him. 

Even so, Peter's faith brought him closer to Jesus while the other apostles-in-training never even left the boat. They just sat huddled together like a bunch of scared, soggy lumps, weathering the storm on their own. Unlike Peter, they didn't try to reach out to Jesus but chose to cling to the relative “safety” of their boat. 

Storms happen, y'all. We're going through a doozy right now and it looks as though it might hang around for awhile. I know many of you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, understandably so. I just want to remind you that you don't have to endure this storm all alone. I'm with you. We're all in it together. And most importantly... JESUS IS IN THE STORM WITH US, walking beside us, ready to carry us through. 

It may not be easy... your faith might get wobbly and your hair may end up wet and soggy, but SEEK HIM. TRUST HIM. 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, He will not let you sink. 

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

I know you've heard the words, but do you really know what they mean? Cognitive Dissonance is the discomfort you feel when you struggle to justify two conflicting beliefs... when your values don't match up with your actions. And since nobody likes to be uncomfortable, we tend to make adjustments in our belief system to restore balance. In other words, even though the two beliefs remain contradictory – we learn to adjust.

Here's a simple example: Deep inside of me, there is a 140-pound woman screaming to get out. I know that if I will stop eating cookies and exercise, I can rescue this woman. Instead, I shut her up by feeding her sugar and justify it with the notion that being happy is just as important as being thin. Cognitive Dissonance. [Seriously, y'all... I don't know what it's gonna take for me to stop eating cookies but I have discovered that a worldwide pandemic is not it!]

At it's core, Cognitive Dissonance is deception. Based on information and preconceptions, we make our minds up that something is the truth and hold tightly to it – even when given certain evidence to the contrary.

Applying this theory to our current political climate might offer a bit of understanding to the predominant forces of division – not only in our country and in our communities, but also among our families and friends. When others belittle or dehumanize us for the way we vote, we tend to dig our heels in and defend our choice even though we may not fully agree with his or her platform, ourselves.

Cognitive Dissonance is rampantly non-partisan... mostly because the media plays to both sides causing us to retreat into our respective echochambers and surround ourselves with Those Who Think Like We Do.

It's not that we're uninformed... we are massively and purposely misinformed.

I just finished the Book of Isaiah, a book that enriches me more each time I read it. Isaiah's style of writing is unlike any other Biblical author... full of poetry and judgment and hope. Written contemporaneously, many would find Isaiah to be a 4-course dinner of political incorrectness served on a sterling platter of improbable prophecy.

But that would only be those who chose division over discernment.

In this world, we are bombarded by lies. Satan confuses us with many versions of the truth, designed to create confusion and discord.

As believers, the only way to avoid such confusion is to stay in the Word. Doing so brings us clarity even though our earthbound souls continue to feel the tension of expectation for Heaven.

Because therein (Heaven) lies the Truth. Our Truth.

Meanwhile, satan grows ever more creative in facilitating our earthly division... perfectly designed and right on cue.

Satan creates secular mindsets who push political propaganda and try to back us into corners of “all or nothing” relating to our belief systems. He causes us to judge each other with Christian purity tests based on our political affiliation, effectively shutting down reasonable dialog and discussions.

Even worse, he causes us to take our eyes off heaven.

When we align our Christian faith with our political party... we've taken our eyes off heaven.

When we trust the power of our votes more than the power of prayer... we've taken our eyes off heaven.

When the anticipation of an electoral victory is greater than our anticipation of meeting the Rider on the White Horse... we've taken our eyes off heaven.

My allegiance should not belong to a party. It should belong only to God.

As such, I believe I can be anti-socialist AND enthusiastically support programs for the disadvantaged and indigent.

I can also acknowledge the existence of white privilege & racism and advocate for equality WITHOUT screaming at someone or burning stuff down.

It's not contradictory for me to believe in the Right to Bear Arms WHILE supporting tougher background checks and controls.

And why in the world would I ever want the importance of securing our borders to interfere with taking care of homeless and refugees LIKE GOD COMMANDED?

I admire peaceful protesters who bring about needed social changes while supporting lawful arrests of anarchists who riot in the name of activism.

Call me crazy, but I don’t think it’s disrespectful to suggest there could be bad cops among an entire force of police heroes... or career criminals parading as politicians. On both sides of the aisle.

See how that works? As an American... more importantly, as a believer, YOU can make choices independent of a party platform. You don't have to be bullied into EITHER boot-licking OR blind hatred. You can avoid becoming a victim of Cognitive Dissonance.

All you gotta do is stop worrying about blind hatred. You can avoid becoming a victim of Cognitive Dissonance.

All you gotta do is stop worrying about BEING right and just and just DO right.

Do what Jesus would do.

Because Jesus never ever meant for politics to determine our moral compasses.

HE is our compass... HE is our way.

HE alone is the TRUTH.