Riptide…

-riptide (n.): a dangerous, fast-moving surface current flowing away from the shore

-We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away…how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

–Hebrews 2: 1, 3a

-“A reason many neglect their salvation is because they never see it as salvation. They see it merely as receiving something, not as being rescued from something.”

–from Hebrews 2 commentary, enduringword.com

-And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

–Joel 2:32

May 1992

It was the first time I’d ever seen palm trees. Everyone in the car laughed at me as I oohed and aahed and craned my neck upward during the drive from Miami International to our hotel on South Beach. “They look like giant kitchen utensils!” I shrieked, bouncing on the seat with childlike glee.

Once we were settled, my travel buddies were ready to explore the city. “No thanks,” I said, “I’ll be on the BEACH!”

I struck out across the sand and found a spot, but I didn’t sit for long; this Midwest girl couldn’t wait to go swimming. I’d only been in the ocean a couple times before, in New England (Brrr! I though Minnesota lakes were cold!). I was sure this would be a completely different experience.

And it was! The water was just right, refreshing but not bracing. I paddled back and forth, taking it all in…the achingly blue skies, the fragrant tropical breeze, the sun overhead shining brighter and hotter than back home.

Then my gaze hit the shore. “Oh…the high rises look really, um, small.”

I blinked twice, checked again. “Oh.” I gulped. “They don’t just look far away, they are far away. How did I end up out here?”

I jerked my head around frantically. There was nobody else nearby, not even remotely close. My heart sank. It was a long way back. I wasn’t sure I had the reserves…but I had no choice. I turned and steered towards land…

To no avail.

After several minutes, despite my best efforts, my view of the shoreline had receded even more. The other beachgoers now looked like a colony of neon-colored ants. That’s when I felt it…a palpable tug…a force in the water under me, literally dragging me out to sea.

A tight ball of panic started to blossom in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t let it overtake me, or I was done.

I started praying, silently, as calmly as possible, so as not to expend more energy. My plea was along the lines of “Lord, help!” and “If you get me out of this, I’ll never do anything this stupid again.”

“Hey, are you okay?”

A guy was treading water about twenty feet from me.

“No,” I gasped. “There’s a current…”

“You’re caught in a riptide,” he said, “You can’t swim against it. Face me, follow me, and I’ll lead you out.”

He twisted into a side stroke. I did the same, swimming on a parallel path, my eyes focused on him alone, until I was finally free.

“How’re you doing?” he asked.

“Tired.” I was floating on my back.

“Okay, let’s slowly head back in. Tell me if you need to rest at any time. I’ll stay with you.”

An eternity later, it seemed, I started to hear the noise of other swimmers. I looked up. Almost to shallow water.

“Can you make it the rest of the way?!” he yelled.

“I think so,” I answered, turning around, “I don’t know how to thank…”

He was gone.

Just. gone.

Next thing I remember, I was collapsing in a heap on top of my towel. It would’ve been a good time to have a good cry, but I was in too much shock, and too exhausted, to make that happen. I curled up in a ball and whispered, “Thank You, Lord.”

He saved my life that day.

Just as He had two years before.

November 24, 1990.

I was caught in a riptide then, too.

I’d been blissfully, ignorantly splashing away, unaware of the current that was pulling me…

Away from God.

Until the realization hit me, gradually all at once, and I cried, “Lord, help!”

He replied, “Face Me, follow Me, I’ll lead you out.”

Never again will I try to move through my life without Jesus. This world is full of riptides…but I recognize them more quickly now…and when I find myself in one, drifting away, I know what to do.

I call out to my Rescuer, my Savior…

And stay focused on Him alone.