Though the crispness of Fall was beginning to creep into the air, the night still held much of Summer's warmth. Outside of any town and city, the sky was unpolluted by man-made lights. It shone with the pure current of the Milky Way.
Last year I was on a short camping trip with my brother and a few friends. During one of the evenings another gentleman stopped by our campfire to share a bite of our supper. He asked if any of us had experienced stargazing from a boat. The unanimous answer was no.
A canoe waited on the edge of the lake not a two minute walk from our campsite. One of my friends wanted to watch the stars from the canoe. Others declined and I decided to accept the proposition. We bundled up and were off. Only, one small factor made me nervous of this venture.
You see, I don't swim. Very little risk was involved. The canoe was steady, unlikely to flip, and my friend was experienced. I trusted him. But even when the risk is small, there's something unsettling about entering a situation knowing if something goes wrong you're entirely reliant on someone else. If the canoe flipped and I was to fall into the water, there was little I could do to help myself.
We take risks every day. Even driving somewhere in my car statistically bears more risk than setting foot in that canoe. But with driving I have the illusion of control. I think I'm a pretty good driver. I'm careful. I try not to do stupid things. But accidents happen. Humans make mistakes.
Though safer in the canoe than in my car, I had to rely on someone else. And that's scary.
Our culture glorifies independence and self-reliance. And these things are not bad in and of themselves. To be independent and able to take care of yourself is, to an extent, a very good thing. But, in large doses, this message contrasts the very root of the gospel. All are sinners incapable of saving themselves. Our salvation solely rests on the work of another individual. The work of Jesus on the cross. And not only are we incapable of saving ourselves, we are also incapable to earn or repay the work Christ has done for us. It is a free gift.
This is so contrary to our culture. I certainly want to be able to do everything myself. I don't want to have to ask for help. But reliance on God is a necessity and an avenue to joy and freedom.
Maybe relying on someone else takes us to places we can't go on our own. Places that fill us with awe and wonder.
We pushed the canoe out onto the lake. The water was still. The stars shone above us and reflected below us. It was beautiful. And if I hadn't trusted my friend, I never would have experienced such a breathtaking moment.
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