Paws and Reflect (11): On the Water – Part Two

Earlier, I started a story about how, after the miracle of fish and bread, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. (Read it here) He sent his special friends down to the lake and told them he would come along later. Well, I ended up on the peak with my best friend, and I came down with him to the water, after he finished talking to his dad.

Now this is when things get dog-gone amazing. Jesus stepped off the shore and started walking out to his friends—on top of the water! Then he called for me to join him. But I just couldn’t do it; ole Buck was too scared. So, Jesus came back to get me. And that’s when my friend did something he’s never done before: he picked me up. Then he walked back out onto the water–like he was carrying a big basket of figs. Only it was me. 🐾🐾

Was I frightened? Yes! But I trust my pack leader totally, so I tried to relax and enjoy the hike. Plus, Jesus is strong. I’ve seen him pick up heavy pieces of wood and great big rocks; carrying me to the middle of a lake should be easy for him. 

“Buck, you’re too heavy to carry all the way to the boat. I’ll put you down and you can walk beside me.” Uh oh. “Please don’t put me down,” I whined. “It’s too far to swim through these waves!”

“Don’t be afraid. Just believe,” he answered.  Jesus said that the last time we were caught in a storm. Ok, if you think I can do it, I can do it, I ruff-ruffed.

Have you ever taken a bath without getting wet? Me either. Come to think of it, I’ve never taken a bath. Cleaning your fur is a cat thing. Buck just goes for a swim and shakes off. Okay, back to the story. Walking on water is like getting wet, but not really. Each step felt like I was putting every one of my four paws on a flat rock at the same time.

It wasn’t long before I saw the boat, nodding up and down in the spray. I could hear Peter shouting at the others to help him put the sail down before it ripped to shreds. They were still many dog trots away, but I decided to run up and join them.

I wanted to scare Peter, because he left me behind on the shore earlier. Folks, I took off like a rock out of a slingshot! “Come back here, Buck!” Jesus called over the hissing water.

I glanced back but kept going. “Look, I’m run…” blub, blub, blub–I went under! It’s a good thing I know how to swim.

“If it’s really you, have me come out to you on the water,” Peter hollered. “What about the dog!?” I yapped. Just then, I made it to the boat. Thankfully, Andrew reached over the side and lifted me onboard.

“Come,” said Jesus, motioning to Peter. “Be careful! You saw what happened to me.” I thought.

Peter stepped off the boat and onto the water. That’s right, he didn’t sink either. Everyone stood there with their mouths open. Not one, but two guys were walking on the lake! Then, Peter began looking around. The wind and waves must have frightened him, because he started to sink. “Master, save me!” he pleaded. Jesus reached down and pulled his friend out of the wild water.

“Where is your faith?” he questioned. We’d all heard him say that before.

Jesus and Peter made it to the boat and stepped over the side, like we were docked at Capernaum. Only we weren’t. It was far from the shore. Yet, as soon as they were both on the boat, we were at the other side of the lake. How? I don’t know. It’s all more than a dog’s brain can absorb. Water walking and time travel are two things I don’t understand.

Yet, on the other hand (or paw) faith makes perfect sense. It’s trusting your pack leader to take care of you—no matter what. And I do. But now I’m realizing Jesus is more than a pack leader. I heard one of the others say it: he’s the Son of God.

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This piece of historical fiction (the dog part, not the miracle) is dedicated to the memory of the real Buck: a chocolate lab who was a gun dog par excellence. That’s him below, sitting in a duck blind watching his owner for the next command. It was his intense gaze (in the photo) that sparked this story. May each of us look to God with the same level of devotion.

Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.Psalm 105:4

*The story of Jesus walking on water is found in Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; and John 6: 16-21.

A special thanks to Beth Alisan, from lessonsfromalab, for helping make this story possible. Here’s a link to her post about Buck: A Moment With Our Creator: Psalm 105:4

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.

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