Why the title?

2002 and our local Pentecostal church held a special open air event at our local showfield. Nothing special but I took my kids and some of their friends along. The preacher spoke about Jesus walking on the water and Peter taking the plunge.
I'm not sure what it was in particular that inspired me but I felt my creative juices flowing and came up with this song.
I eventually managed to share it with him in Canada of all places, some 5 years later!

Walking on the water.

Walking on the water is impossible to do
unless I look up from the waves
and fix my eyes on You.
Lord Jesus you are calling me
to come and walk Your way
to leave the safety of my boat
and follow You today.
But I don’t know if I can take
a single step towards You.
The water is so very deep
and the waves so very high.
And all You do is beckon me
with eyes that burn like fire.
Reaching me with deeper love,
and grace that’s even higher
than the waves,
than the waves,
than the waves of fear
that break against my soul.

Walking on the water is impossible to do
unless I look up from the waves
and fix my eyes on You.
So Jesus may I always look
straight into Your eyes
and know the truth that saves my soul
from drowning in this world’s lies.
And every step I take towards
Your blood-stained outstretched hands
reminds me that I am a part
of Your eternal plan,
that calls me to step out in faith –
and take Your Holy Fire –
reaching out with deeper love,
and grace that’s even higher
than the waves, than the waves,
than the waves that wreck
the life and soul of man.

Walking on the water is impossible to do
unless I look up from the waves
and fix my eyes on You.
So when the raging storms rush in,
threatening to flood,
support me with Your Spirit
and the power of Your Blood.
So walking on the water
will not seem so very new
when I’m walking with You, step by step,
and doing the things You do.
Reaching out with grace and love
to everyone in need.
To be Your hands, and share Your life
wherever You may lead
through the waves,
through the waves,
through the waves ...

Some years earlier I wrote the poem reproduced below during a church weekend away in Bournemouth. I often hope I'll remember it when I'm facing the storm. After sharing it with another friend and on visiting their home I discovered that it has been given pride of place in their downstairs cloakroom - and learned that they had passed on a copy to one of their friends and guess where they keep it ... in their cloakroom.

Well, I suppose that's some kind of exposure!!!

Lord,

when all is calm,

and the sun is warm and soothing,

help me to trust in You …

for some day the storms will come,

dark clouds will rise over the hill,

and cold waters will overwhelm me …

remind me that You are here,

with me.

Here,

in the same boat;

as much Lord of the darkness as of the light,

as much Lord of the wind as of the calm,

as much Lord of the storm as of the stillness,

to which You bid us come,

and know,

that You are God.