Ocean Swimmer

I have a friend in D.C. that I cherish hugely.  She's a "kindred" in the best possible way- sisters, friends, adventurers, dreamers, thinkers, spiritual seekers of love.  She has overcome so much in her own life, experienced so much and carries a heart and mind full of wisdom and insight. I appreciate her more than I can express.
Recently she shared a story with me that she heard from someone else.  I thought it was such a great metaphor that I made a mental note to write it in my blog.  If anyone stops by for a read, I hope that it blesses you as much as Toya sharing it with me did.
Here is my humble attempt at the retelling of a retell.


Once there was a woman that swam in the ocean.  She was very graceful and beautiful in the water.  She loved swimming for long stretches of time, and whenever she swam, large groups of people would gather to watch her swim.  When one has a special gift from God, it draws attention.  This woman had a gift.  It came naturally to her, she loved it, and she did it well. 
The woman had a close relationship with her Grandpa, and one day her Grandpa gave her a rock.  It was a beautiful rock- smooth and shaped like a star.  After the woman's Grandpa died, the woman kept the rock with her at all times.  She cherished the rock because it felt like a part of her Grandpa was still with her.  The woman even began swimming with the rock.   She swam with the rock out into the ocean, but over time, the rock began to weigh her down. 
People stopped watching.  She wasn't swimming as gracefully, as strongly, or as far, and eventually the woman drowned because the rock sunk her. 


This is the case when we let the weight of our forefathers rest on us.  Their issues are their issues, and God blesses us with our own special gifts and purposes.  We are to follow Him and walk in those purposes. 
I have often heard people talk about an "appointment" within spiritual circles.  It's taken me a long time to understand.  God has prepared in advance good things that He has specifically designed for each and every one of us.  (Ephesians 2:10!)
In my little devotional recently, I read another reminder about how distinct and different each of our paths are in this life, but the key is acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him.  That's what matters.  We can jump back into the ocean, swimming freely in the wide open, using the gifts God has given specifically to each one of us.