Fish Out of Water

The Nursing Home residents filed in for our little monthly art class and looked at my demonstration artwork of a leaping dolphin.
"A fish out of water!" one lady said.
"It's a dolphin," I told her.
One woman in a wheelchair instantly fell asleep. That did not bode well. Slowly, residents filtered in. We had to set up extra tables and chairs. Several new people joined us. Some had no idea why they were there or what they were doing, but all engaged in the task before them. Some did indeed look like fish out of water, but all were trying their best. The hour zoomed by.

One of the sweetest stories was unfolding at one table where a man and woman sat. Both were in wheelchairs. The man struggled with awareness of what he was supposed to be doing. He didn't smile or show real interest. The woman, however, was an encourager. After each instruction I gave, before working on her own art, she showed the man what to do, and praised him as he tried to follow her guidance. At the end, she said, "Well now, you made a very nice dolphin! Did you have fun?"
He nodded.

We are all fish out of water sometimes. At one time or another, all of us find ourselves in circumstances we didn't want, and in which we don't quite know how to respond. I love Charles Swindoll's take on this. He has the perfect attitude, based on biblical principals. Swindoll said:
"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” 

 

Impossible is impossible in God. He makes us fish out of water at times, to show us how He can make fish out of water breathe.

 

 

1 Peter 1:6-8

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Nehemiah 8:10 

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

1 Peter 5:10 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.