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Posted by Terri Davis | Date: October 04, 2011 | 3 comments
While on a recent trip to Mexico, my husband, Glen, and I took a hike, with our backpack, over a huge rock to get to the beach you can swim in. The Pacific Ocean was totally off limits for swimming. Once over the rocks, we thought we were at the beach. We looked down the sand and saw a couple walking along the water line and several others on the edge (hindsight tells me now they were locals). So we, laughing and enjoying God's beauty, walked on the edge where the water just hit our feet. The following probably lasted 60-120 seconds at best, but seemed a lifetime.
The next thing we knew the water came pounding up and knocked us both down. Still not alarmed, I realized my sun glasses came off and were in the sand about 5 feet towards the ocean. I got up and ran to get them when the next wave hit. Wow!!! What a huge wave it was with a huge undertow. Still not alarmed, I got up to walk to shore and realized my feet were cemented in the sand. When the next wave hit, I was pulled out towards the ocean with the strongest undertow I had ever felt. I looked over and saw Glen still sitting in the sand with the backpack on. That’s when I began to get alarmed. I tried, uselessly, to swim to shore only to be pulled further out to the ocean. Now all I could think was, "take a breath as soon as you come up," because I knew I had no idea when the next wave would hit. I looked over one more time and couldn't see Glen. "Oh no! I'm going further out and I have no control! Where is Glen?!?” Panic was rising, and in my head, I screamed as loud as I could, “Jesus help me.”
I went under 8-10 times and started to process what was now becoming a reality: drowning. My kids! Glen! NO!! I came up with total desperation, looked to shore and screamed, “HELP!” I saw a young man, far away, in red shorts with a red buoy standing very calmly with his arm straight in the air with his palm toward me. Another wave took me under and as I struggled I thought, "Why isn't he coming to get me? Why is he so calm? Jesus help me!” And then it hit me. He was telling me to stop fighting. Seriously?!?! I came up, grabbed another breath and completely let go. I tossed & tumbled and was shooting through the water doing summersaults without a clue what was up or down. I came up and right in front of me was this young man extending the buoy. He surprised me and I grabbed it but could not hold on. One more wave hit. I didn’t have a good breath. Again, I shouted in my head, “Jesus help me!” I came up, the young man was there, and I held on with all my strength. The next thing I knew, there were two men carrying me to the shore. Glen, what about Glen? I looked around, and he was there.
I ended up sick the next day, but the horror of it was worse than the physical. Glen and I decided we wanted to try to find these two guys. Come to find out, one was a fireman on that beach and the other was there by "coincidence". He was checking turtle traps.
At the station, this young man told me I was very strong. He said, "you never stopped fighting or screaming.” But I was screaming in my head not out loud.
As I meditated on the days events, the Lord showed me how life is full of waves. That young man was like Jesus, standing with his hand up, in red, just as calm as can be. It wasn't until I let go that he was able to help me. Isn't that just like Jesus? As long as we fight, he waits, calmly. When we let go, he's there, waiting to surprise us and save us.
Posted in General things
Wow! Thank you for sharing We are so thankful god brought you back to is!!
Thanks for sharing Terri!!
Your article was exclelent and erudite.