Harold Keller / L’Observateur / May 3, 2000

I take pride in telling people that I’ve taught all of my grandchildren (except Kameron – he’s only 4 years old) how to swim. Last year, Victoria was the14th out of my 15 grandchildren to learn, so I thought.

Last week, Victoria and Tiffani begged me to take them swimming. The waterwas still a little cold, but I finally gave in. As they played in the shallow water,I sat in a chair by the pool and read a book. Victoria asked if she and Tiffanicould go in the deep water and, with my permission, they did. Tiffani jumpedin first and then followed Victoria. Victoria started to struggle. Tiffani, only7, was trying to help. I then realized it was serious and, with my clothes,jumped in to save Victoria, losing my eyeglasses in the process.

“What happened?” I asked. “I forgot how to swim,” answered Victoria. “Howcan you forget?” I questioned, a little aggravated. “I don’t know,” sheanswered. It took about 10 minutes for me to finally find my glasses.A couple of days after the incident, Victoria asked her mother if she could go swimming at a neighbor’s house. Her mom responded, “No, you almostdrowned the other day because you said you forgot how to swim.” “ButMom,” Victoria answered, “I only forgot one part!” “Yes, but it was the part where you stay above the water and not sink to the bottom,” her mom reminded her.

Monique, her 16-year-old sister, couldn’t help but add to the conversation.

“OK, Victoria, let’s see. You remembered to put on your bathing suit, putonsunscreen, put your beach towel in your beach bag, go to the pool and jump in. You just forgot how to actually swim!”Victoria didn’t have a problem remembering all the extra activities of swimming, she just forgot the main part. She isn’t alone. Sometimes, we canget caught up in the many activities of life, but forget about the most important thing.

The Pharisees, who had classified more than 600 laws, once asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus replied,”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second islike to it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”We work hard to provide for our families, spend time with our children, go to church, put money in the offering – all of these things are good things. ButJesus said that the most important commandment is to love God and others.

That’s the base from which all other activities should flow. If we’re not doingthe most important thing, we’re like Victoria who made all the preparations to swim, but couldn’t stay afloat.

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

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