The rumination of an idea gets bathed in the Elixir of Knowledge. Then the idea takes a few quirky turns and comes out like this.
Grandpa D, my dad, was born and raised in Iowa.
The Big One broke out with the help of our future trading partner on December 7th. So everyone went to War.
Grandpa D went into the Navy. Yeah.
He's from Iowa, a state not famous for its surfing, beaches, or maritime commerce.
From corn to waves.
From landlubber to sailor.
Now I'm thinking, after the 2nd cup of Elixir, about how that's so much like our Walk with Him.
Starting out, we live on the land, making occasional ventures to the dock twice a year.
Maybe three.
Then we become inquisitive about this Sailor they keep talking about.
We begin to visit the dock more frequently.
Who is this Sailor?
Could it all be true?
We take the time to sit on the dock regularly, dangling our feet over the Boat.
At last we see the Sailor standing in the Boat, smiling at us, holding out His hand.
We make the decision.
Some of us slowly and quietly slide into the Boat with tears of joy.
Some of us give a little hop and a laugh.
And there's a few of us that do a running leap, screaming happily all the way.
We're now in the Boat with the Sailor.
We've become sailors who are following the Sailor.
And the Boat pulls away from the land and the dock.
Our life begins to change.
Now, for awhile, we are busy doing boaty things.
Lifting.
Tugging.
Swabbing.
Ahoying.
The Boat begins to be our lives. We fall into a rhythm of daily duties, and find ourselves more infatuated with the Boat than the Sailor.
Then, one day, the Sailor does a really peculiar thing.
He steps out of the Boat and walks out a ways.
On the water.
Just Him.
And the water.
He turns with a laugh and says - "C'mon".
Now life in the Boat is very regimented. Very orderly.
Walking on the water looks rather disorderly.
Unpredictable.
Insane.
But we got into the Boat to follow the Sailor.
And now He's walking on water.
With that same smile, holding out His hand.
And the decision is made.
Some of us slowly and quietly slide out of the Boat with tears of joy.
Some of us give a little hop and laugh.
And there's a few of us that do a running leap, screaming happily all the way.
"If I am to follow a Rabbi
who walks on water,
I will eventually -
out of necessity -
have to get out of the boat."