So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36

Richard and Jane rented a beach house with some friends for a three-day weekend.  The first night they stayed up late talking and playing table games.  Richard looked forward to sleeping in.  But at 6am Richard’s eyes popped open and despite trying to fall back asleep, he finally decided to rise early rather than toss and turn and wake up Jane.

Richard rolled out of bed and slipped on his running shoes, shorts and a t-shirt.  The sun shone through the picture window.  He would go for a run then return and try to catch a short nap before everyone else got up.  Richard stepped onto the deck to stretch before his run.  He could already see several other joggers on the beach.  He stepped onto the sand and jogged next to the water.  He greeted the other joggers he passed.  Time passed quickly and soon he had left the housing development behind and jogged alone.  A large rock loomed in the distance and Richard told himself he would turn around and head back when he reached the rock.  At the rock he paused for a moment to catch his breath and enjoy the view.  He turned to run back to the beach house when a movement in the sand past the rock caught his attention.  Still out of breath he jogged the short distance and discovered a beached dolphin.  Richard tried rolling the dolphin into the water, but the attempt proved unsuccessful.  Next he grabbed the dolphin’s tail fin and pulled.  Richard had no idea that dolphins were so heavy.  He struggled to pull the dolphin into water deep enough for it to swim.  When the dolphin reached deep enough water Richard watched it swim out to the open water.  Set free at last.

Dolphins are designed to swim in deep water.  In this story when Richard found the dolphin the waves splashed over its body, which was barely enough to keep it alive for a while, but it was unable to swim, so eventually it would die.  In the same way we dabble in the shallow end of the spiritual swimming pool so to speak.  Instead of trusting God and jumping into the deep end of the pool we choose to play it safe and splash in the puddles.  Just like the dolphin was set free in the deep water of the ocean we too shall be set spiritually free when we abandon all fear and commit everything in our lives to God.

“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  Luke 12:27-31