John 14:26 – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Childhood summers invited us into a world of diving headfirst into discovery and exploring uncharted waters. My favorite summertime adventures were spent at First Place, the community pool, where the sun blazed, and the water offered sweet relief.

 The pool was enormous, like an Olympic stadium, complete with waterslides that twisted and turned. I remember the thrill of attending countless swimming parties there, devouring cake and gulping down Capri-Suns.

As a kid, passing the swim test was a rite of passage. You could not swim alone until you proved your skills. Because of this, my dad was my constant companion.

He would patiently help me practice treading water while building my confidence. He set safe distances for me to swim to him from the pool wall.

His support gave me the boldness to face the deep end and attempt the swim test.  I knew the lifeguards were on deck, and Dad was there cheering me on.

At the whistle blast, I propelled myself forward.  I remember crawling through the water and finding a rhythm. Before I knew it, I touched the wall on the other side and knew I had passed.

Reflecting on that day, I realize God is a lot like my dad in this story. Just as Dad encouraged me, God does the same in our spiritual journeys.  The Holy Spirit, often called “The Helper,” is with us, encouraging us to take it to the next level.

So whether you are doggie paddling or confidently doing the breaststroke, allow the Holy Spirit to walk with you into the deep end of your faith. You might just find yourself jumping off the metaphorical high dive with confidence.