God's Love Is Bigger Than I Think

I've become convinced that my understanding of God's love is like that of a man who stands on the shore, waves lapping at his toes, and thinks he knows the ocean.  He can obviously recognize that it is the ocean.  He may even know something of the ocean; its depths, tides, and temperature could all be know by a man who stands on the shore.  In the end, sadly, he still hasn't experienced the ocean in its fullness.  We can never really understand the power of the tide until we are in over our heads, rolling in the waves.  The depths are incomprehensible until we realize that the bottom is out of reach and the safety of the shore is too far away for our tired bodies to swim.  That is when a person can experience the enormity of the ocean; just beyond the edge of control.

That's when I know God; just beyond the edge of control.  As long as I have control He doesn't.  Whenever I am manipulating the situation and arranging life according to my will I am not allowing the omnipresent love of my creator to guide me.  My prideful arrogance says, "I can handle my own life.  I can make my own rules".  But God says, "only as long as you stand on the shore".  If I truly want to know (that is, experience) the depth and power of God's love, I must jump in...over my head...and swim very far from the safety of shore.  A place where the only thing saving me is the buoyancy of the very thing I fear.  Only then can I understand what it is like for God to control my life.  When I give up control.