Swimming Lessons and Spiritual Formation

It is the time of year when many children are taking swimming lessons. Perhaps swimming lessons have much to teach us about the path of growth in faith and spiritual formation. I was reflecting today on the connections between swimming lessons, faith formation and intentional small group / discipleship group ministries.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Coaches support the fledgling swimmers. Good coaches know more than just how to swim; they know how to support others in the right ways to enable them to swim on their own.

2. Coaches know when to let go. For new swimmers to build confidence, it is important that they begin to swim and try new things on their own. Good coaches know when to let go.

3. Coaches can discern the correct combination of 1 and 2 based on the individual swimmer. In other words, there is not a "one size fits all" way to get a swimmer from A to B.

Do you have a mentor or spiritual father that can guide you, sometimes pushing, sometimes supporting? Do you have a group of "swimmers" that you regularly meet with that are on your same level of maturity in faith?

And, perhaps most importantly: Are you ready to jump in?