Calming the Waters
One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)
We pretty much have water on the brain these days, don’t we? There’s water falling from the sky, from the all-day, persistent drip, drip, drip, to the pelting, jumbo-sized drops that sound like little explosions as they hit the car, the house, or your umbrella. Then there is the hurricane-produced water inundating thousands of towns, homes, workplaces, schools, square mile after square mile unrecognizably covered by the murky floods. And our own Cedar River is acting like it needs a wider channel to flow through, because that space is filled up!
Have you ever noticed the human qualities we attribute to weather events? There’s the fury of the storm surge, the angry roar of the wind, and the relentless pounding of the rain. On the positive side, we also refer to the benevolent warmth of the sun and the cheerful twinkling of the stars. We often take the activity of the environment pretty personally, as anyone who plans an outdoor event that gets rained on, blown away, or roasted in the heat can attest.
This story in Luke’s Gospel takes place a fairly short time after Jesus had chosen his twelve disciples from among those who were following him early in his ministry. This small group was learning in depth about Jesus’ identity and his purpose. The experience in the storm made it clear that they weren’t following just any teacher, but rather God’s own Son, who had authority over the winds and the water.
Life is filled with storms — the creeping flood waters of fear and anxiety can threaten our hearts and minds. Anger and frustration will blow furiously in all directions, keeping us from feeling tethered to any anchor. Worry and hopelessness wash away any sense of security. Grief and sorrow can wrap us in a dense fog, taking away our sense of direction.
A storm can be so overwhelming that we panic, as we sink in a leaky little boat, but then we call out, “Master!” And immediately, Jesus is right there beside us, and with a few words, the turmoil of our inner storm is calmed and quieted. Regardless of what is happening in our lives, through it all, we are protected by the power of God’s loving care and the promise of life eternal in his presence.
“The Lord is my shepherd . . . He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
(Psalm 23:1a, 2b)
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers