Waves Of Adaptability
Reba, Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson, and Randy Travis: those were the voices you would hear coming from my daddy’s pontoon boat when I was a little girl. Every weekend in the summer you could find us on Norris Lake in Tennessee cruising on the water and listening to that good-ole country music. I loved it and many of my best memories from youth were made during those summers.
The name of the boat was Grasshopper and of all the fun memories, something I don’t recall is ever being concerned if the boat would do its job. As a little girl I had full trust in my daddy to control the boat, and full trust that the boat would stay afloat. Grasshopper road the waves and weathered many storms by adapting to the water that surrounded it—not letting the water surrounding it to get inside and sink us.
The apostle Paul knew a lot about boat rides himself, as he was in prison on them, but his boat-rides turned into shipwrecks three times! Even though it doesn’t seem like Paul’s floating prison was adapting well to its conditions – Paul was. Acts 27:15 gives us his account, “Since the ship was caught and unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.” He knew he had to adapt and head in to the circumstance. A little later, verse 25 quotes Paul encouraging the other men while in the middle of the storm-tossed ship, “So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.” Paul was always willing to sail through any challenge for the glory of his Father. His ability to adapt well was evident even while he was in prison, as he was still singing, preaching, and writing the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Talk about being able to make yourself at home anywhere! He didn’t allow his surroundings to get inside him. He adapted to them, and spiritually he stayed afloat because he trusted his Daddy with controls.
Sometimes we are unaware that storms get us where we need to go. This was the case for Paul, because he would eventually end up where he desired to be. Seasons of change can be scary. For instance, bringing home a new born baby requires adapting—I’ve rode that wave three times! It was joyful, but I remember being somewhat overwhelmed at first with each one. Yet, when we give way to our situations, God will drive us along. For every change comes lessons we get to learn, growth that stretches our flexibility, and situations that can expand our ability to adapt.
Since my summers with Grasshopper, I’ve grown a lot and I’ve been through lots of changes. And as an individual, as a family, with jobs, and in relationships I’ve learned to adapt every time. For each new opportunity comes a new level of adapting.