Feeling like a fish out of water.

Decide for yourself, but I think this is an important point of wisdom:  fish do not know they are wet.

It is unlikely fish think about the medium in which they spend their entire lives.  Their ability to eat, breath, move, and reproduce is completely dependent on being in water.  Even though many species of fish live in schools, there is no scientific evidence to suggest those schools are based on academic circles which investigate the problems of living in water, threats of predators, or how to better co-exist with plankton.  Fish are just critters who live in groups in water.  They are unaware of the water and their need for it until it isn’t there (flopping in the bottom of a boat) or the pollution in the water makes them sick.  Even then, are they aware?

The dynamics of fish remind us of this truth:  the obvious isn’t necessarily so obvious.  We all live in an environment made of of not only physical space - where we eat, breathe, and are held close to the earth by gravity - but also one defined by the dynamics of relationships, values, priorities, and culture.  We can be so accustomed to our daily dynamics of life we hardly think about the environment in which we live.

This is why the Gospel is so challenging.  Following after Jesus is such a radical concept that embracing it can make us feel like a fish out of water.  It can be uncomfortable and even cause us to lose our ability to see and perceive as we did before.  The truth of this discomfort, though, is that we are beginning to understand our environment from a different perspective.  I doubt that fish, while being brought into a boat, looks back at the water and says, “Wow, that is amazing.  I can’t believe the properties of fluid dynamics!  Why haven’t I seen that before?”

Unlike the fish, we do have the ability to engage with our environment, to observe it, and to respond to it.  We may not be able to change it the way we’d like, but life in the Kingdom of God provides us with unique set of priorities, purposes, passions, and purpose.  With this mindset we can find a new kind of life that not only survives the environment in which we live, but but to thrive in a new dynamic of life and relationship.  Fish will never learn to live out of water. Not only can we “live out of water,” we are invited to discover that “out of water” life is even better than life in the pond!

 Even though it may feel a little weird at times, and even though we may not realize the Kingdom of God in its fullness (yet), life “out of the water” does bring us significant benefits.  The psalmist spoke of the joy of sins forgiven (Psalm 32), the Apostle Paul reflected on joy and contentment (Philippians 4), James encouraged God’s people to always remember that the divine purposes are always at work (James 1).  These are neither clichés nor platitudes;  they are the reality of the environment in which we can live as we nurture our understanding of God’s grace, mercy, love, and authority over all things.  

This is a growing process that depends both on our learning of the “fluid dynamics” and transformation by the Holy Spirit.  It doesn’t mean we will be zapped with “new environment survival skills.”  It does mean that we can be confident that God will always be at work in the lives of those who love Him.  Paul assured the church in Colossae with this fact, that “he who began a good work in you will complete it.”  

As we start our week, perhaps it is a good time to pause and think about the “water” in which we are swimming.  Since we aren’t fish and have the ability to reflect and evaluate, maybe this is a good time to find one “environmental” influence that isn’t part of life in the Kingdom.  Maybe it is an attitude, or worry, or fear;  I know I don’t have to think about this for too long to find my own environmental toxin.  

Unlike fish, I also know that my environment does not define my nature.  I can thrive in spite of the dangers and problems that lurk in the environment around me because I know - and slowly am becoming confident - in the goodness of the Creator and that His purposes will be accomplished, even though it means I sometimes feeling like a fish out of water.