Deep Water, Paradox Part 2

Leslie,at the insomniac, is also talking about paradox.
http://theinsomniac.blogs.com/the_insomniac/2005/11/abundant_life.html
Paradox, where the truth is hid. I love paradox, it stretches my mind beyond the breaking point. Leslie talks about the paradox of "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it".*

This is not a simple paradox, in fact, it includes some internal paradoxes. We need to surrender our lives to Him. Like Jesus in the garden. (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42).

A strange piece of this surrendered life is to rejoice when we are given the gift of suffering. To rejoice when God sends us into the storm, the same way He sent the disciples off into a storm alone, after feeding thousands (Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 15). Then when they struggle in the storm, He comes, but not to them, instead, it says "He was about to pass by them." (Mark 6:48). The disciples trusted Jesus to keep them safe, yet He intentionally sends them away. (Matthew 14:22) It says; "...Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him..."
Either Jesus didn't know there was a storm, or He is deliberately placing them in peril.
Then he waits.
All night.
As His disciples struggle against the wind.
Alone.
Wondering again, "Don't you care if we drown?"(Mark 4:38).

For us followers of The Way, this seems to be what losing your life to gain it means. Trusting, when He has sent us off.
Alone.
He seems so distant.
The pain so great.
The task impossible.
We ask; "Don't you care if we drown?"
We are in water way over our head.
Alone.
This is the abundant life? How can it be?

Leslie is on to something with this, "what is life?" question. This simple paradox, that as it unfolds/we unfold it, the amazing awesome presence of God starts to be known. How he is always with us, yet sends us off alone, (another paradox).

Sends us into water way over our heads.

Deep Water.

I send you
into deep water.
Water over your head
you cannot stand.
Waves too menacing
threaten to engulf.
So powerful
they’d overwhelm you.

On your own
nothing you can do.
Keep your eyes on Me.
Come to Me on the water.
I promise you
no easy path.
Evil will assail you
threaten to undo you.

I am with you
to the ends of the earth.
In your peril
you will find Me.

© May 28, 2000, Presbypoet

Has He sent you into deep water?
Do you know He is with you?