Last thoughts on floating

It's "funny" how my thoughts on floating have been overlapping with Marty's sermons on the Holy Spirit.  He just mentioned this past weekend that the Spirit is like a river - and it's in that river of peace and love that I am meant to be floating.

Since I've been writing about this, I've been having lots of conversations with friends and family alike about what our floating should "look like" and what it is that keeps us from doing it.  As I read more of David Benner's book, he made some observations which answered alot of my questions.  First, he got to the root of what it is that keeps me flailing:

The bottom line is this: "sin is unwillingness to trust that what God wants is our deepest happiness.  Until I am absolutely convinced of this, I will do everything I can to keep my hands on the controls of my life, because I think I know better than God what I need for my fulfillment."

I don't know about you, but that gets right to the heart of my constant striving - I'm not sure if God is working for my best, so I'm gonna help Him : / .  And then his next few sentences describe my life so well:

"Considering how easy and natural floating is, I am amazed how much energy I expend treading water.  The lie I seem to believe is that my efforts are keeping me afloat.  The reality is that all they do is tire me out, hold me in the same place and deprive me of the joyous discovery that I am supported.  It is no wonder that I long for rest.  Trying to stay afloat and move through the water on my own energy satisfies my willful sense of independence, but it leaves me exhausted.  And I never seem to get where I think I should be going."

And now this is my favorite part:

"Then, in exhaustion, I momentarily surrender.  I relax.  I allow my full weight to be supported by the Spirit.  And not only do I float, I flow with the current.  I hadn't even been aware that there was a current.  My thrashing about in the water made me oblivious to its presence and force."

When I think about the life in the Spirit that Marty's been talking about, it makes me realize why sometimes I can't sense His moving or hear His voice - I'm thrashing about too much, trying to work out my good plan.  And that makes me oblivious to the movement of the Spirit.

He speaks through stillness - that's why floating is such a good idea.  So I'll see you in the River : )!