400 Feet Up

I knew when I sat on the beach waiting for the boat to come back that I was about to have a “God” encounter. Know why? I’m looking for it; I ask for it, I want it. In Romans 8, Paul says how can they believe in one that they have not heard about? How can they preach unless they are sent? I have been sent. Jesus said to His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” If you and I as believers think for one minute that does not apply to us, then none of the word of God does! And we all know that is off base.

Have you ever wanted to parasail? Even though you wouldn’t catch me on a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, or any daredevil contraption, I have (inexplicably) ALWAYS wanted to parasail. It just looks so peaceful, so sweet, and I have often dreamt of the gloriously beautiful vista that awaited me up there in the sky. For one reason or another, I just have never done it. Until recently, that is.

My friend, Kim and I retreated for Christmas this year: destination: Cayman. Ahhhhh. Such a paradise let me tell you. As we sipped on bottled water, sat in front of the ocean waves, had dipped our bodies in the surf, read our books and discussed our upcoming tandem Sunday school class, I saw the parachute way out on the turquoise water and said to myself, “Self, this is it, the time is now the day is here, you are going up!”

See, this time there was no one to talk me out of it, no one giving me that glance. The day had come! I watched for the “Red Sail” company boat and approached the driver as he was dropping off one of his customers (her hair was such a mess!). I inquired about the excursion, and he told me words that every woman longs to hear and often does not: “You are too light to go up by yourself, you will need a partner.”

I asked him if it was appropriate for me to kiss him now or did he mind waiting until I got on the boat?” He laughed and showed his marvelous tan by displaying the whitest teeth on the island. I was briefly in love. Okay, I was twice his age, that’s why it was safe for me to mention the kiss, know what I mean? He told me that he would work on finding me a partner to go up with, and “watch for my boat, okay?”

As I waited, I sipped, dipped, read and I was certain that God had something wonderful in store for me.

I went back to my lounging partner and told her, “This is it, girlfriend! I am as good as in the air!” Kim doesn’t ooze a whole lot of emotion. She had parasailed once upon a time. She is a serious left brainer, I, a serious right brainer, never the twain shall meet unless your Pastor notices and thrusts you together and says: “Aha! You two will be perfect together to teach an adult Sunday school class together!” He had decided the class would center on the Anne Graham Lotz’s book: Just Give Me Jesus. “Now, go for it!”

Of course, I’m crying as I read it, laughing a little here and there, want to talk constantly about it, Kim just nods, smiles, and asks if I mind if she goes for a walk…..like I don’t know she is trying desperately to get a break from my constant chatter. Vive la difference!

As I see young Mr. Smiles’ boat approaching the shoreline, Kim shoots me one word of encouragement before I leave: “Bye.” Okay! Here I am, did you find someone? As I ask, Mr. Smiles tells me that a young man who is new to the company will go up with me. He handles the ski jets, and has not yet experienced parasailing, so this is his premier flight. Of course, I was paying, he was not; which was perfect considering I knew he was going to hear about Jesus. The Lord told me. I knew. He did not.

He was a pleasant looking young man, tall, strong, okay, so he had muscles, girls! Soft red hair, and was he excited to go on this trip! We had quite a quick trip on this super speedboat out to the spot we were to go out from. To be honest, my excitement was on two levels and they were hand in hand. I knew that the Lord had orchestrated this. He was letting me do something I always wanted to do, but even His purpose was dual.

His name was Tim, I learned, as we were released from the boat. Up up up, quickly, easily….oh this is gorgeous! Praise God for blue skies, that turquoise water, the island, the pretty fish. Hey! Can Kim see me? No way! She is but a blip, a dot! How insignificant we look from this perspective! But still how important we are to our God. So important that He sent His one and only Son to die for you. You and I are far from a “blip” to God. We are blood bought! As I was thinking this, I turned to my new young parasailing partner and simply asked him if he was in awe, as I was. He was.

So, what brings you to the Caymans, realizing he was not a native. Too fair, no strong West Indies accent, there were a few giveaways. He told me that he hailed from British Columbia, Canada. His brother had done this and recommended it. Well, what normal red blooded young man wouldn’t want to spend some time on a beach, instructing people how to have fun on a jet ski? Getting paid for it…checking out the “babes” and basically biding your time while you try to figure out what in heaven’s name you are doing on the planet?

I understood. Hey, who cannot relate? Feed my flesh. Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Suddenly, I looked straight down. “Ahhhh, ahhhh.”

Tim said, “What? What?” “Don’t look down, just look out.”

Naturally, his curiosity got the best of him; he looked and quickly agreed that looking out was easier to take, to be sure. Then he points out that the only thing holding us up was a rope! “Imagine!” he says, “..Just a rope, not even a cable of some kind…” I dismiss the thought, trying to concentrate on the looking out part, cuz let me just be square with you, we were up very high!

 “So, Tim, how old are you?” “23.”

 “Really? Hey, guess what? He turns his head…. I was 23 when I was born again.”

Shhhhhhhh the sound of the wind. So soft, so sweet, so very silent. His face went into shock. It was as if he was saying: “Man! It’s bad enough that I had to go up in this thing with my mother, but did she just say what I thought she said?! Argh!”

Flashback: it’s the late 70’s and I was bombarded everywhere I went. Do you know Jesus? Did you know He loves you? Were you aware that He died for you? Has anyone ever told you about the Son of God? They all looked goofy to me. I really hated them. I thought for certain that my mother had paid them off or something. She was always on me about Jesus. She had a personal relationship with Him. I was happy for her, but don’t get that stuff close to me, I’m libel to catch it.

 Now Tim was about to be exposed to the “disease.” We were 400 feet up… a simple rope holding us on one end, a parachute pulling us on the other; I had myself one very captive audience. Well, excuse me, he wasn’t going anywhere.

I told Tim how much he is loved. I told Him that God has a plan for his life. I told him how Jesus forgave me and how he doesn’t think more highly of one person than another.

I shared Jesus. It was wonderful. Will he ever forget his first parasailing adventure? I think not. Neither will I. It may be my last.