Originally published in Australia Connect in August 2001, this powerful reflection remains relevant to us today. Read on as John Rawson invites us to step beyond ourselves and be daring in our walk with God.

I don't know any scripture, which has caught our imagination more than that which is found in Section 161 of the Doctrine and Covenants. A part of that scripture says:

Become a people of the Temple, who see violence but proclaim peace, who see conflict yet extend the hand of reconciliation, who encounter broken spirits and find pathways for healing.

Become a people of the Temple. Everyone who has had the privilege of visiting the Temple has commented about its beauty. Many of us will never have this opportunity. We do, though, share in the wonder of its beauty through the many photographs and pictures that are available. It's not this beauty that draws us, and makes us, a people of the Temple.

Many of you will have heard of my love of the Hebrew word "Shalom". It's a beautiful word, and it has such deep meaning for us. It's not easily translated, as there is not one word in English to which it can translate. It does mean peace. But it's much more than this. And certainly more than the absence of war. It conveys more in meaning than a sense of wholeness, of wellbeing, of completeness. It means more than the absence of anger, or conflict, or violence, or argument, or loud voices, or red faces. It certainly is a Peace, which passes our understanding. It's a gift, a promised gift. It's something I can't have if you don't have it.

The spirit of Shalom, calls us to get out from our comfort zones and dare for Jesus. It calls us to lift up our eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which we are sent.

The spirit of Shalom calls us to stretch ourselves to the very limits of our being. Of risking ourselves for each other and for God. It calls us to new vision. To seeing with new eyes. Hearing with new ears. Touching with new hands.

I'm currently reading a delightful book titled, "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat." This book is about faith, and the greatest barrier to faith: fear. It is centred on Peter's experience with Jesus, when Jesus walked across the storm-tossed waters to the disciples, late one night after John the Baptist's death.

Peter wanted to be part of this water-walk with Jesus! He asked Jesus to command him to come to Him! In taking that step, in stepping from the boat, Peter lifted his eyes and saw beyond the horizon. His was a journey of trust, a leap of faith. At that moment, Peter could see with new eyes.

There is a wonderful similarity, a sameness, between the spirit of Shalom, and being a people of the Temple. Both call us to go beyond ourselves, to reach out into areas we do not know, where we are unknown. To leave our comfort zone. To get out of the boat and be daring!

Have you ever stood in a swimming pool, wanting your 2-year-old child to jump to you in the water? Have you seen the look of uncertainty on that child's face? It's almost as if that child is thinking, "I love you, but do I trust you enough to jump?" Have you ever experienced the exhilaration and delight when that jump of trust is made?

Many years ago, I recall doing something that made me afraid. We were camping along the shores of the Nepean River in NSW with a group of church friends. The river was flowing briskly, and nearby were some rapids. The water over these rapids was quite rough, with waves several feet high. Some of the group were rafting down the rapids on blow-up mattresses, and they called out to me to join them. I recall, not wanting to be out of it, but not really wanting to do what I was being challenged to do. Reluctantly, I grabbed a spare mattress and took to the water. As my speed picked up going into those rapids, I can remember thinking, "What am I doing here? Get out of this! Get to the riverbank!" Then the mattress was taken by the current, and I sailed up and over the first and biggest wave and down through the rapids until I reached the quiet water some 200 meters beyond. WOW!! What a great feeling that was! I did it! This was exhilaration!

I could have stayed on the riverbank. I could have stayed nice and safe and enjoyed seeing the others having their fun. But if I had done this, I would never have experienced the feelings of euphoria of that afternoon's fun. I had to get out of my "boat", my comfort zone, to experience that feeling.

Fear is the greatest obstacle we face when God calls us to act for Him. On that stormy night when Jesus walked on water, when the disciples were afraid for their lives, when they thought they were seeing a ghost, Jesus called to them, "Fear not." The Gospel of Matthew's testimony for us is that Jesus comes to us when we least expect Him. And when we need Him the most.

Jesus calls us to trust Him. What we do with that call determines our place with Him. We can stay nice and safe and comfortable on the riverbank, enjoying the spectacle around us, but we will never know what it feels like if we don't get our feet wet by getting out of the boat.

There's a story in the third chapter of the book of Joshua when God is leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. To do this they had to cross the Jordan River, which was flowing deeply after the spring harvest. God promised that when the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant touched the water, the river would be cut and the people would cross on dry ground.

The people had to get out of their comfort zone, they had to lift their eyes to the place beyond the horizon to journey in trust and get their feet wet first, and then cross the mighty river.

To become a people of the Temple is to respond to the call of God to become a people who are dedicated to the pursuit of peace. To become a people who seek reconciliation through spirit healing ministry. A people who are the spirit of Shalom. A people who seek peace through justice, which brings them to reconciliation and healing of their spirit, that brings them joy, fills their souls with hope, creates love in their hearts, and a peace which passes all understanding.

Shalom.

John Rawson