To Dive Like Birds
4/12/20
Happy Easter everyone!
This past week has been like the others; odd sleeping hours, coffee, cooking, homework, walks, and so on. A lot of life just doesn’t feel real, but it has also been nice to rest.
Today, I’d like to just remind you of my deep appreciation for all of you who read this blog. And for that, I will keep this quick so that you can enjoy what today stands for and be present with your families! So here is a quick story:
Yesterday, my family and I went out on a boat ride as we’ve done many times before. The day was overcast unlike most when we roam around the bay, but I found that I enjoyed having a break from the Florida heat. For some reason, I was just having a joyful day. I found myself embracing the wind and the water and the world around me.
As we strolled through Tampa Bay, I sat on the very front of the boat by the anchor and tossed my feet over both sides of it. When we got back into open waters, my dad eventually convinced me to sit back down in the boat so he could pick up speed. I obliged, but discovered a way to prop my body up to where I had been sitting previously on the front tip of the boat with my face towards the wind.
I found myself in prayer, talking openly with God and asking for Him to help me trust Him more fully. It was as I did this that I saw something I’ve also seen a million times before: a bird diving like a bomb, piercing the ocean’s surface and causing water to splash into the air before its head reappeared and bobbed on top of the glassy waves.
I found myself instantly captivated whereas I’d never been before, even though I had seen many birds dive into the ocean. I felt a new prayer on my heart, and so I began... “Lord, teach me to dive like birds do.” Over and over again I repeated this phrase to myself, half unsure of what it meant. It was then revealed to me that this was the answer to my prayer- how I should learn to trust God. To trust that He has goodness in store for me, even when sometimes it appears He is more kind to those who hate Him than to those who love Him. God wants me to dive into faith and into His callings on my life in the way that birds dive headfirst into the ocean beneath them. Sometimes, they have a fruitful attempt and come up with fish in their mouths. Many more times though, they don’t. But still, they take the same daring chance each time they dive- they go all in with every single one.
I encourage all of you to keep your faith in times of drought. I encourage you to dive as birds do; fully, faithfully, knowing that God has a purpose in everything even when we can’t immediately see the fruits of our courage. Often times, it is those dives that come up empty which strengthen us to receive on the dives that are full of reward.
Again, my love and appreciation for all of you is beyond words. Enjoy Easter and take time to enjoy the people you love today. ❤️
Till next Sunday,
-Lexi Cummings
A song I wrote last semester that talks about the deep, persevering love that God has for us. <3
