Walking on Water

[Alex Tang]

One bright sunny morning, Abba Ah Beng was in a small boat on a lake
below the Sow Lin Monastery. In the same boat were his disciples Ah
Lek and Ah Kow, and a visiting monk, Abba Isaac. They were sharing a
Christian meditation on Jesus walking on water (Matt.14: 22-34).

“Why was Jesus walking on water?” asked Abba Ah Beng of his disciples.

“To get to the other side,” answered Ah Lek innocently, “because there
were no more Air Asia tickets?” Whack! “Ouch.” “Be serious,” said Abba
Ah Beng, his face turning a darker shade of crimson. “To prove that he
can?” ventured Ah Kow cautiously, eyeing the bamboo fan that Abba Ah
Beng was holding.

“And why does he need to prove that?” Abba Ah Beng asked, his facial
colour returning to normal. The two disciples developed a sudden
interest in examining their feet while Abba Isaac looked at the clouds
above with a hint of a smile on his face.

“To show the disciples that he is more than a miracle worker? That he
is the Son of God?” Ah Kow ventured an answer. Abba Ah Beng beamed at
the response looking at Abba Isaac. “Aiya, showoff,” whispered Ah Lek
under his breath.

“Jesus wanted to expand his disciples’ understanding of who he is,”
explained Abba Isaac in his lecturer voice, “by proving that he could
defy the laws of nature by walking on water. He also wanted to show
that this ability may apply to others if they have enough faith as he
demonstrated with Peter also walking on water. Unfortunately, Peter
doubted and he sank. As Abba Joseph had written, it is our faith that
keeps us afloat.”

“It is time for me to get back to the monastery,” Abba Ah Beng said,
standing up in the boat. Then he climbed over the left side of the
boat. To the disciples’ astonishment, he only sank until his knees and
then was able to stand upright. They watched Abba Ah Beng’s receding
back with their mouths open. Abba Ah Beng moved from the boat towards
the distant shore opposite the monastery. The further he walked, the
higher he rose until he was walking on the surface of the water. When
he reached the shore he turned round and looked at Abba Isaac. Abba
Isaac too climbed out of the boat and walked towards the shore in a
similar manner as Abba Ah Beng.

“Wow,” exclaimed Ah Lek as they watched the retreating back of Abba
Isaac, “what faith, man! I didn’t know Abba Ah Beng and Abba Isaac can
walk on water.”

“Think we can too?” Ah Kow wondered.

“Of course,” said Ah Lek, “We have faith don’t we? Let us claim some
more faith.”

So both the disciples sat in the boat, screwed their eyes tight and in
their minds claim greater faith to walk on water. After a few seconds,
Ah Lek said, “Let’s go! Let’s go over the right side so that we can
reach the shore before Abba Isaac.”

Ah Lek climbed over the right side of the boat and promptly sank. He
rose to the surface sputtering water. “You have not enough faith,”
laughed Ah Kow, “let me show you.” Ah Kow climbed over the right side
and also sank. “Ahh! Help! Cannot swim.” “Don’t worry,” shouted Ah
Lek, “I am a qualified lifeguard.”

Meanwhile the two Abbas were watching from the shore. “Do you think we
should tell them that the lake is very shallow on the left side of the
boat?” Abba Ah Beng mused to Abba Isaac.

"Unexamined spiritual assumptions may be very dangerous"

Blessings for the Advent season,

Alex
email: dral...@yahoo.com
blog: www.draltang01.blogspot.com
website: www.kairos2.com