So a Chinese man has walked in space today. That must be a thrilling experience, though the impact of the view of the earth from space can hardly be captured by a camera. There must also be a sense of isolation in the vastness of space. And there must also be at least some awareness of risk; "Will I ever get back?"

Walking in space may rank among the more hazardous undertakings known to mankind, but a couple of weeks ago I watched a film of a walk that seemed to me to be even scarier. It was a documentary about a carefully-planned (but illegal) walk on a wire rigged tight between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York! Yes, Philippe Petit actually walked on it. No, there was no safety net. Yes, it was set up in secret with the help of accomplices and in spite of security staff. The year was 1974 and Petit had been planning his exploit for several years since he had heard of the project to erect the world's tallest buildings. At 7.15 on the morning of August 7th 1974 he stepped off one tower on to the wire at a height of 1350 feet above the Manhattan pavement. For three quarters of an hour he walked back and forth across the two hundred feet that separated the towers... He lay down on the wire and got up again... It was an altogether prodigious feat.

The film, Man on Wire, traces Petit's preparations for his death-defying walk. Cable and equipment had to be smuggled past security to the top of the building. Petit practised walking on a cable a few feet above the ground while friends pulled and swung it to simulate the swaying of a wire between twin towers. In addition to a passionate desire there was the development of an intense concentration. Not a fraction of a second of distraction could be allowed.

The film was gripping, intriguing and moving, though I found its outcome sad. It also made me think a lot. It linked itself in my mind to an incident recorded in Matthew’s gospel: the story of Simon Peter walking on the waters of Lake Galilee. Jesus is seen by his disciples from their wind-beaten boat as he walks across the water in the small hours of the morning. They are terrified at the sight of what they think is a ghost. But then they hear a familiar-sounding voice, "It is I. Don't be afraid." So Peter calls out, “Lord, if it is you, let me come to you on the water”. Jesus gives him the go-ahead. Peter steps out of the boat and is heading toward Jesus when we are told that "he saw the wind and became afraid". Beginning to sink he yells for help and is grabbed by Jesus who asks him why he ever doubted.

You could certainly say that Peter underwent a sudden, nearly disastrous change of focus..! There was a sudden, panic-stricken awareness that he was in a serious situation! It is wonderful to see how Jesus didn't let him drown. I think the story also serves as a call to disciples to step out in faith to be with Jesus wherever he may lead.

There are some similarities and many differences between Peter’s walking on water and walking on a high wire. To step out of a boat or off the side of a building is certainly an act of commitment! Then there is the need not to be unmanned by any sudden realisation of the precariousness of your situation! These are not small things, but I have found myself focussing much more on what I assume to be the differences!

You will not be surprised if I tell you that I have neither walked on water (as such) nor on a high wire, but it seems clear to me that Peter did not need any particular skills that night. His was not a feat of extraordinary balance, such as a high-wire walker exhibits. He had only to put one foot past the other in the familiar way, but it was certainly going to be up to Jesus to see that the water held him up in an extraordinary way! All Peter had to do was to trust and obey Jesus’ call to come to him. Jesus would never give him a command and then betray his disciple’s obedient trust. And sure enough, although Peter was chided for forsaking his trust he was not left to drown.

Nor did Peter need some heightened concentration. It was not Peter’s ability that Jesus was calling upon. Jesus was looking for an obedient trust in himself - for Peter to look away from himself to the one who was calling him.

Just this week I heard someone say that they considered themselves too weak ever to be a follower of Jesus. But that would make nonsense of Jesus’ statement that he came not to call the righteous but sinners. It is in the middle of a long, weary night that Peter hears the welcome voice of Jesus saying, “Take heart. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter simply asks to be with him. To his request the Master says, “Come”, and Peter in coming finds Jesus faithful. He also learns that the Master looks for faith in his ability, and in the authority and grace of his call to sustain and uphold the one he calls to follow him. Is that living on the edge? Jesus certainly said that he came to bring life, life in all fulness.

September 2008.