I remember going to the Glenwood Colorado Hot Springs several times growing up. They are gigantic pools, set in an idyllic location, that began to be a “hot spot” as early as 1888. The “Therapy Pool” is heated up to 104 degrees, with suggested limits of 15-20 minutes at a time. The “Grand Pool” is larger, and only heated to 90 – 93 degrees; it is the one you can spend a lot more time in. Both are heated by the 122-degree source natural mineral spring, which popularized the pools in the old days because they were thought to have medicinal benefits from the high concentrations of minerals in the water. Celebrities from Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill, and even President Roosevelt enjoyed the pools and amenities the hotel connected with them offered. They are popular family destinations now, with all the trappings of a mountain town: boutique businesses, plenty of activities to try, a beautiful setting, and of course, the pools, which can provide all-day relaxation and enjoyment for a family.
I was always a good swimmer, probably because my mom was a lifeguard in her younger years and enjoyed the water but also understood the dangers of it. She not only taught me how to swim, but also had me take swim lessons too. I remember going to pools often, and it was an enjoyable activity growing up. I also remember the High Dive at the Grand Pool in Glenwood. It stood tall and proud down at the deep end, next to the lower, regular diving board, glistening in the sunlight, inviting all those courageous enough to attempt their flying feats in front of any onlookers willing to watch. I could do front flips off the regular height diving board all day, so the obvious next challenge was the High Dive. So I climbed up the ladder to the High Dive, walked out on the plank, and instead of jumping, I froze. I didn’t move for a long enough time that the mineral water on my skin dried and I could feel it pulling my skin tight. My parents were on the pool deck over to the side urging me on, the line of other willing and able high-divers was growing on the ladder behind me, were also encouraging me to jump, but I could not jump. Instead of jumping, I eventually had to live out the embarrassment of asking the kids waiting behind me, each one standing on a rung of the ladder, to climb back down to make room for me to climb back down too. I think I tried at least one more time, when there was no one else around it, but no matter how psyched up I got beforehand, that eight to ten foot drop at the end of the plank was enough to send me right back down the way I came up.
The High Dive conquered me that day.
And as far as I can remember, I have never jumped off a high dive since.
This experience from my childhood is actually still helping me today, not because I am out for a swim, but because the analogy of “just jumping” is proving helpful in my life again.
People tend to do the things we are comfortable with and avoid anything that may challenge or embarrass us. We ‘swim in the pools’ we are used to without any problem because we are comfortable and familiar with our everyday activities. To keep things steady and comfortable we do what we can to avoid high dives, those things that may bring a challenge to us or an uncomfortable change to our lives. We begin to say “no” more quickly to help us avoid anything that is outside of our comfort zone. We avoid invitations to try things that may be weird, different, cause us to look silly, or maybe even are a little scary. We will do front flips off the regular height board all day, but we go the long way around to avoid the high dives. I am definitely part of the “we” in those statements and also needed the reminder that high dives are not problems or things to be avoided, but that they are opportunities to be embraced and enjoyed. Any opportunity that may bring a little spice, fun, creativity, something new, in a relatively safe situation, isn’t something we should avoid at all.
High Dives are opportunities to be embraced and enjoyed.
We all get so used to our routine, swimming in the same pool every day, that anything that may bring change or asks us to try something different becomes a risk. But God is a creative God, and He may have something for you that will absolutely bring you joy and blessings if you would just embrace it! Speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, God tells his people, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18–19, ESV) What is He saying to us in these verses? I think He is saying that sometimes God likes to shake things up a little so our lives don’t get stale. He knows we get too attached to our current ways of living and are likely to default to our routines, which aren’t bad until they turn into ruts, then instead of being a tool to help us, they become a snare that traps us. He is also a creative God, and I think He wants us to live in the possibility of new things happening all around us all the time; if we go to the same place every week for date night, eat the same food, have the same conversations, He knows that will take a toll on our relationship, so keeping things fresh helps us live in the moment with Him. I also know that doing the same things week after week can take a toll on my mental health, especially if the pool we swim in is more taxing than it should be, and let’s face it, lately it seems as if life has become more taxing than it needs to be. The potential High Dive opportunities may bring some much-needed hope, and a change of pace that provides relief even if only for a little while.
For all those reasons listed above, I needed to be reminded to jump again. It has been a while since I have accepted a change into my life that has me climbing up the ladder and cannon-balling into the deep end. I have been in a rut for a while, afraid to try new things, and would like to feel the freedom of flying through the air for a few seconds and splashing down into the grace of God. I have seen Him show up for me and my family again and again, and I am getting the sense He is calling me to a renewed hope of His involvement in my current life and that He has plans for my future. I can feel Him on the pool deck calling for me to trust Him and jump, not into danger or trouble, but to experience the joy of living with Him and embracing the creative ways He wants to lead me.
I shouldn’t be stuck in a rut when I walk with the one that created all the wonders of the universe.
You know how to swim in your life right now, and you may even jump off the regular diving board occasionally. But what High Dive is God calling you to climb and jump off of? He may be trying to invite you to something new, challenging, even strange, that may actually bring you some freedom, joy, fun, or excitement!
Will you jump this week?
Watch for His invitation to the High Dive and embrace it!
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