A Spiritual Lesson from the High Dive {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}

My bare feet made their way up the ladder, mortified to back out now. A jump from the high-diving board.

Could I pull it off with a secret fear of heights?

A public embarrassment to turn around and go the same way I had arrived—down the ladder and past the people waiting in line.

And I just knew as pool-siders gawked behind sunglasses, What a scaredy-cat! would also cross their minds.

My twin sister and I hung out at the local pool several days a week every summer. This adventure happened in sixth or seventh grade.

Yes, younger kids jump off high dives. You see, I mustered up enough courage to make jumps, oodles of them, off the low dive. Because it was low.

Yet, even for this high-dive feat, I wasn’t planning a crowd-pleasing, eyebrow-raising dive or backwards flip. Never a good diver, I kind of fell into the water from the sidelines, my arms in position to lead the way.

My dives lacked perfect form and a straight body—bent legs always gave me away. Not olympic material (judges score cards read 3.0), you probably wonder why all the fretting, sweating, and heart skipping to jump? That’s all…jump.

Still, friends coaxed us, the Clarkston twins, into executing this jump. Since we needed to protect our good name as part of the hip crowd, we accepted the challenge.

Executing the Jump

But at the bottom of the high-dive ladder, a going first tug-of-war ensued. “You go first.” “No, you go first.” Then, I reluctantly agreed to jump first.

As I walked the board, I encouraged myself with a pep talk. For goodness sake, Karen, get a grip on yourself. Just jump off the end of this long board into nice, soft, sparkling water. You can do this. Stay straight and vertical. Oh, and guard against busting the water on entry, busts hurt like crazy! No pressure.

This high-diving-board story ends with a sigh and an inward celebration to remain impressively cool. Horray, I did it!

Again, and again. My sister and I jumped multiple times.

Although I set the example by jumping first, I always preferred the low dive. I’m a low-dive-and-low-altitude kind of girl.

Jumping First

I know another who went first. Again, and again. The One we never need to implore to go first. No begging, “Please, with sugar on top and whipped topping and a cherry? Pretty, please?” No, none of that.

This is where going first originated. “We love because he first loved us” (I John 4:19, ESV).

God not only stepped into a position of first, but Jesus also positioned Himself in a posture for firsts.

Jesus went first. In love. And in forgiveness. In death. And in life.

Jumping Posture

With Christ as our example, we position our life to love as He loved us. We posture our heart to forgive as He forgave us. Like Jesus died, unselfishly bearing a cross, we die to self—our way, idols, and desires of the flesh—as we bear a cross daily.

With Christ as our example, we position our life to love as He loved us. We posture our heart to forgive as He forgave us. #spiritual #posture @FridayKaren Click To Tweet

As Jesus lived, we live sold-out for our heavenly Father, accomplishing His plan on earth and in our life.

As Jesus lived, we live sold-out for our heavenly Father, accomplishing His plan on earth and in our life. #SOLDOUT #GodsWill @FridayKaren Click To Tweet

Jumping for a Big Splash

So let’s jump in with both feet. Jump in from the sidelines. Or, jump from the low or high dive. Ease in from the pool-side ladder. Or, come slip-sliding down the slide.

But, by all means, get in the water. Live life to the fullest. Make a big splash in a large way for the One who went first. Jesus.

Which “going first” posture is most difficult for you?

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Linkup is Open! This week, my friend @FridayKaren teach us how to get in the water. Live life to the fullest. And make a big splash in a large way for the One who went first - Jesus. Share your blog. Click To Tweet