The Gift of Staying Afloat

The Gift of Staying Afloat

By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar

Here’s something fascinating: water, the lifeblood of our existence, is mentioned in sacred texts over 700 times. That’s no coincidence. It’s not just a source of physical renewal but a deep symbol of resilience, trust, and a connection to the divine. And one of its quiet marvels buoyancy has a lot to teach us about life.

Let’s talk about buoyancy for a second. It’s the reason why something as heavy as a cruise ship can glide effortlessly across an ocean. Or why even when you’re dog-tired in the middle of a lake, the water will hold you up if you trust it. Notice the key part of that: if you trust it. That’s not just physics; it’s a lesson.

For the longest time, I thought life was about battling the waves fighting harder, doing more, and keeping everything under control. Sound familiar? But here’s the catch: when you thrash around trying to control the water, you sink faster. It’s only when you release the struggle when you learn to float that you discover something magical: the water knows how to carry you.

I learned this the hard way. There was a season in my life when I felt like I was drowning not just in one area, but across the board. Career struggles, financial issues, heartbreak you name it. I was standing by a still lake one evening, feeling utterly defeated, when something clicked. The water wasn’t fighting itself. It wasn’t worried about the wind or the ripples. It was just being. I realized in that moment that peace isn’t about calm circumstances  it’s about finding a way to float through the chaos.

Here’s the thing: buoyancy is like the Creator’s invisible hand. You might not always feel it, but it’s there, lifting you when life is determined to drag you down. It shows up in the little things—like a friend’s unexpected encouragement or a quiet moment that suddenly feels sacred. It’s in the way everything somehow keeps moving, even when you don’t know how you’re going to make it.

Ever think about a cork? It’s small, unassuming, and gets pushed underwater all the time. But no matter how deep it goes, it always bobs back up. Why? Because its core is lighter than the water around it. That’s us, too, when we align with something greater than ourselves. When our hearts are full of gratitude and trust, we rise. But when we’re weighed down by doubt, ego, and fear, even the smallest waves feel like tsunamis.

Peter’s story comes to mind you know, the guy who walked on water? He was doing just fine until he noticed the wind and started freaking out. The second his focus shifted to fear, down he went. Isn’t that just how we are? We start strong, full of faith, but as soon as life gets messy, we let fear take over and start sinking.

But here’s a secret: buoyancy isn’t just about survival. It’s not about barely keeping your head above water. It’s about thriving, about learning to trust the rhythm of the waves. The storms of life aren’t here to destroy us; they’re here to shape us, to teach us how to rise stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.

And let’s be real sometimes, you just have to laugh. Picture this: you’re flailing around in the water, yelling at the waves for being too big. Ridiculous, right? The waves don’t care, but laughter can lighten your load. Humor has this sneaky way of reminding you that you’re still standing or floating—and that’s a win.

Psychologically, buoyancy is resilience. It’s that stubborn refusal to let life’s challenges keep you down. It’s knowing that storms don’t last forever and that calm waters are always just over the horizon. Spiritually, it’s about trust. Trust that the Creator isn’t letting you sink, even when you can’t see the lifeboat.

You know what’s wild? The deeper the water, the stronger the buoyancy. Shallow waters might feel safer, but they don’t teach you how to float. It’s in the deep the struggles, the uncertainties, the places where you feel out of your depth  that you discover just how strong you are.

So, here’s the deal: stop fighting the waves. Let them come. Let them teach you. And when you feel like you’re sinking, remember this  you were made to float. Trust the process, laugh a little, and keep rising. Life’s ocean is vast and unpredictable, but you? You’re unsinkable.