Anyone here who has gone to a resort with us, knows about our struggles with our 6yo daughter when it comes to pools. She stays by the steps and "swims". She refuses to come out even in water that goes up to her waste, let alone further.

Even our attempts to give her flotation devices, water wings, etc, does not give her security. I try to get her out by carrying her, holding her, embracing her, encouraging her, yet she screams and yells and carries on so much that I have no choice but to stop, fearing "child abuse" accusations.

And a large pool arena does not help, with all the echoing of her screams.

She wants her "secure" pool side steps. Then claims, "when you and mommy are not looking, I swim across the steps". That does not count!

I told her, you need to learn to trust me to carry you.

Then an epiphany came to me.

Those steps are our church, our religion. We have more faith in that than in Christ.

Those steps cannot nor is willing to save her if she took a mistep (sin in life) and fell face first into the water. In fact, those same steps may crack her head open if she hits it hard enough.

Yet, I am willing to protect her and save her if necessary if she would just trust me. Especially since most of the time, being over 6' tall, I am standing on the floor of the pool anyway.

So seeing that, I see us struggling in church, by the pool side, sitting on the steps (pews) taking in what others are doing in freedom. We are much safer in Christs arms in the deep than we are sitting on the steps alone.

Christ is out there, swimming, enjoying life and inviting us all to join him. Some get out there Olympic style and swim and play volleyball and have a great time! Some are hanging on to a partner, others use flotation devices and others can swim to their hearts content, but all are out there, weak and strong.

But those who sit on the side will never enjoy the real Jesus and his enjoyment of life when we do not trust him outside of our church and reality.

Now that is not to say church is wrong, steps are necessary to get us into the pool if we cannot dive in. But staying in one place when the purpose is to "swim" in Christ, is our danger.



Boyd "Live Nude and Prosper" Allen

"May the Lord protect our nudity from the sight of those who will not benefit, and may he allow us to be seen by those who will."

CNC

Well said!!!

Boyd,

When I was your daughter's age, I was almost as unwilling to venture into "deep" water. I know firsthand the wild-eyed fear that robs us of all reason and trust. I also remember that my parents found a way to get me beyond that.

I don't remember the exact method, but they slowly patiently worked with me one-on-one in a small shallow neighbor's pool until that psychological barrier was destroyed.

The next summer, I was swimming underwater like a fish!

We are planning on getting a shallow pool for her, if nothing else, to get her out in the yard and having fun in the water. She does like that.

We have a larger rubber pool, about three feet deep and ten feet across, and expensive to fill, not to mention the trouble to keep it up. So we are keeping that one packed.

Boyd

If the church is on the ball it should be out there in the deep end together following Christ. Churches like that are hard to find but it's quite encouraging and invigorating when you do find it. A great ongoing tragedy amongst Christian Naturists today are those who rightly break away from those clinging to the steps but then find it difficult going in the deep water. God didn't design most of us to function at our best alone - that's one reason he sent the early disciples out two by two. My prayer is that CNC can help bridge the gaps between traditional Christians and help provide connections to those Christian Naturists that are struggling and feeling like they are alone.

CBG Wrote: "My prayer is that CNC can help bridge the gaps between traditional Christians and help provide connections to those Christian Naturists that are struggling and feeling like they are alone."

That is exactly my dream and prayer. Thank you for yours.

boyd

Been thinking about your post for a bit and I like it a lot. I thought back to when I started swimming in the ocean again about 10 years ago. We had gone to Terra Cotta for our first nudist trip about 13 years ago and right after I "found" San Onofre's nude beach. I didn't venture out too far for several summer's. Finally, I started swimming out further away from shore. I came to the realization that if I relaxed and let the ocean take me along with the waves I would float and not sink. Once I learned to "let go" and allow the ocean to guide me the fear of going under lessened. When it was time to head for shore I would use the ocean to help me swim in. Much like when people fight God, when they finally let go, trust and allow Him to guide them and work with them everything in life works much smoother.

Not sure if my analogy is as god as yours, but your writing reminded me of my past rebellious ways. I'm still a rebel, but I'm trying to liten to God more just like I listened to the ocean while swimming.

That is a very good analogy! Now if we keep this up, maybe walking on water won't be too far a stretch for us! Of course, in the nude would be easier since we won't be wearing wet clothing that will weigh us down and sink us.

Boyd

Wow! This is some of the best writing I have seen here in a long time, from everyone. I think you have found your common ground. This is the vision of CNC!!!! Big Grizzly Bare

Grizzly, wouldn't that be, not common ground, but a "common pool"?

As for the deep water simile, where do you find the most and biggest fish? Not along the shore.

After another few visits at the resort and going there Memorial Day I also realized that I've carried the analogy over to the club pool. After figuring out how well I float in the ocean I relaxed more in the pool and realized what lifeguards have been telling us for years...the less you struggle, the less you sink. I relax, breath deep and have no fear of sinking. Something I can also apply to life in general. So many of us fight God so we keep sinkiing. Work with the water and God and you'll stay afloat.