the "ghost" commute.

There are things you can do and do well without even realizing we are doing them. Think about when you drive home from work. Have you ever had one of those days when you get in the car, and then you are home? You don't remember the commute home at all. You just end up there, because you are so accustomed to driving and to the route you take, that it seems your body knows exactly what to do.

It may not be driving for you, but reading a good book. You curl up on your couch with a beloved, worn blanket and begin reading a classic or maybe a new find. Two hours later, you realize that it has been raining terribly, that you missed several phone calls, and that the neighbors have been shooting their leftover fireworks belligerently. Yes, in that rainstorm. But you were so absorbed in the words, thoughts, and feelings in those pages that all time stood still for you.

For me, it is writing. Sometimes it takes me a while to be able to express what my heart feels in writing, but once I do, the words come freely and I begin to type wildly, fingers sliding over each key quickly, trying to keep up with the outpouring of thoughts from my mind. I don't look around, at my hands, or any other distractions. My hands know exactly which keys to press to put pen to paper, so to speak.

Then there is Peter. If he lived today, he would do the "ghost commute" from work. He would take a calm Sunday afternoon and finish that book and maybe another one. And he would type without looking at his hands. He has been on my mind all week. In the book of Matthew, Peter and the disciples are on a boat, sailing away from the mass amount of crowd of five thousand they just fed. They sailed out to sea, battered by wind and waves, when they see Jesus walking out to them on the water:

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “ Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” {Matthew 14:25-27}.

But Peter is not convinced: 

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  {Matthew 14:28-30}

Peter walked on water. He trusted in the fact that he was a believer, and that in itself gave him the power to miraculous things without even realizing the capacity of the moment. But as soon as he doubted, as soon as his eyes began to shift, as soon as he noticed his surroundings, he became more consumed with what could happen than what was happening at the present moment. 


Just like when I look down at my hands typing, realize what they are doing, they freeze. I let go of what I know I can do, and put too much into the whys and hows. When you realize you've been driving for ten minutes without even paying attention to the red lights and stop signs, you panic and realize the danger that could pose. 

But Peter was in good hands. And so are we:

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “ You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” {Matthew 14: 31-33}

God can use us for amazing, unbelievable things when our focus is solely on Him. When we do not allow the distractions of the world keep us from that straight path to Him. We complicate our relationship with God so much just by looking around. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, not on the world, and following His command to follow Him onto the sea won't seem so crazy after all. 

But I would pay attention on your next drive home!!

(Missed today's daily photo? Click here.)