Silent Waterfall
Right now I truly am "at sea," writing from the head of a spectacular inlet. The mountains forming the plunging walls of the inlet are topped with fresh January snow. What a treat when the misty clouds rearrange to give a glimpse of these snow caps lit with sun. The bright white atop is carried down to the turquoise glacial water inlet by myriads of waterfalls, white threads tracing down the gulleys of the thick west coast forest.
When I am on watch on the bridge, my job is to keep watch, not to take photos of waterfalls. But yesterday there was one particular fall I wished to show you. It had multiple veils stepping down mossy cliffs. Beyond the gaze-keeping beauty of this cascade, I was struck by the silence.
So much water coursing down, and yet, from the centre of the inlet and in the confines of the ship bridge, the fall was a silent display. So much beauty, but spent without being seen or heard except for the occasional loggers or sight-seers passing by.
This made me thoughtful because with the personality of a people-pleasing achiever, I want to be significant and to make a difference. In addition to having a purpose, my natural desire is to be noticed, to be seen and heard. You could say I want to make a splash. I have a lesson to learn from the silent waterfall.
In my pre-watch “walks” in the ship’s gym this week, podcasts by John Piper and Kevin DeYoung have been shaping my thoughts about the Lord’s prayer. There is the temptation when new on ship to manage my image. The navigation ranks can be competitive. Jesus pointed to a different course that channels away from this pressure, and as God is shaping my heart, I am finding the course attractive.
The question is: who's name will I live for, God's or mine? ...”Hallowed by Your name”... As the water of my life is continually spent, is it spent glorifying God or glorifying me? Am I striving for noise to attract attention, or am I a waterfall fulfilling a bigger purpose regardless of human notice?
A friend planting churches in Newfoundland (check out MileOne Mission) knows the task will not be completed in his lifetime and has adopted the aspiration of Nikolaus Ludwig: "Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten." (Ironically, Mr. Ludwig lived 300 years ago and is remembered by us because of this unusual motivation for God’s name and not his own fame).
There is nothing wasted by a life, a waterfall unreservedly poured out for God’s glory. For the glory rightfully belongs to God.
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all." - 1 Chronicles 29:11
I pause before rolling into the bunk at the end of watch. “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name”... I rest knowing that God who made the beauty in this inlet, who sees and hears the waterfall everyday, also sees and hears me pray. So when I rise tomorrow may my name be silent and may I live for God’s name to be seen and heard. “For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
PS - No photo of the silent waterfall but the photos here were taken after watch from the head of the inlet.
