Visiting the Swamp

One day I found myself in a swamp.  I don't know how I got there, but that's where I was.  It seemed that just a few steps ago I was skipping stones on the water as I played on the beach with my friends.  But, with a click of a second hand I was transported to this smelly, dark hole. The smell of the life giving ocean was replaced with the stench of life sucking stagnation.

I couldn't believe how much energy it took to pull my foot out of the muck and move it inches forward, only to replace it into what gladly grabbed hold of it again as if this time it would never be released.

I could breathe ok, I just didn't want to.  Taking air in meant that what was left of my senses would want to punish me for allowing such tastes and smells in.

Then it hit me!  I'll ask God to put me back on the beach! I took a deep breath of the foul air and with all that I was I screamed out, "God, I'm right here!  Hey God, will you turn the swamp into a beach?" I listened for an answer, but the hisses of snakes and belches of toads was all I heard.

One more step. One more attempt to get God's attention. One more moment of being a swamp creature.

Finally, after hours of effort and inches of progress I stopped trying to move my feet. I couldn't even find the place in my spirit where energy used to live.

Instead of loud words a whimper came out, "I loved the beach you made for me, but I hate this swamp and I'm mad that you're making me walk through it.  On the beach I could feel your pleasure, but here it seems that only snakes and toads find a song."

I found a little more voice, "If I tell you that I love you will you burst through the darkness with your light and lift me from the swamp?  Will you answer my questions about why I had to come here?  If I say the right thing will you lift me out and carry me back to the beach?"

I learned that silence is loudest when you're in the swamp.

I had to push the next words out, in fact, they weren't even words, they were slurred moans, "I still believe in you even though I can't hear you."

"Dancer, I believe in you too." The words came from a few feet away.

"Is that you Jesus?  Did you come to lift me out?"

"Dancer, I'm not on the outside looking in, I'm walking through this swap with you."

"Will I get out?"

"Yes, we will dance again, but we will never be the same.  The swamp is not strong enough to keep you and noise of toads and snakes will not be the last song you will hear."

I heard the voice, but couldn't see him.  I didn't even know which way to look, "I'm thirsty."

"For what, the beach?"

I thought for a moment and tried to swallow to see what my taste buds were really longing for, "I long for the beach, but it's deeper than that.  I want... you."

Psalm 42.1-3, 11
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.   When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" (11) Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Matthew 11.28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.


Visiting the swamp too,
Dancer