Wednesday, 4 February, 2004

Text: Matthew 8: 23-27



And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, " Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"



Why are you afraid!?! Because we thought we were about to drown, that's why! In any of our days, it may start out like a little trip across the sea - no big deal. In fact, it can start out quite wonderful. Andy yet, at any moment, a windstorm can swoop into our lives and it can appear to the be death of us for sure! So many things can sets storms off in our lives. Some of them may not be apparent to others...they may be deep in our hearts - troubling our soul - breaking down our trust in God alone. Some storms may bowl us over so dramatically that everyone notices that a storm has hit...and hit hard. Why are we afraid!?! On this side of the strom, it is not possible to see to the other side. Trusting that Jesus is going through the storms of our lives with us - even though it appears as though the guy is asleep in the boat letting us get all unraveled - is the beginning of trust that can see beyond the storm and the blessed assurance that whatever happens - we will have a new beginning "over there" - beyond our immediate fears and unfaith. I am one who has a hard time seeing anything else but the storm as it bashes in on me. At those times, I don't need words that are meant to cheer me up or to help me focus on something else - I need words that will help me remember that God puts Jesus in our boat so that we will not be alone. Trust that that is enough - to face any storm.



Connection: Don't go off in the boat alone today! Remember, that in the midst of us - 2 or 3 or more - there is the Christ. It is in the community of the faithful that we are blessed to see the winds rebuked and the seas begin to settle down. Then, to make us really look at today in a new way...expect that once the sea is calm, Jesus is going to ask us to come out and walk on the water with him....now there's a challenge for all of us.



Healer of every storm of our lives, keep us mindful of your presence alongside us. Remind us of your power for life even when we are being beat up and thrown around by the forces of the world around us. Be the rock when we seem to be sinking in the sand much faster than we thought was possible. Amen.