The Boat And The Storm
I wrote this poem sometime during the early days of Covid. It was a weird time. A collective storm for all of us to say the least. I wondered then as I do now, what is our reaction to the storms in our lives? This is a really good story that provides a response. If you’re interested, you can find it in the book of Matthew 8:23-27 and also in Matthew 14:22-33
There is boat... there are men in it...Jesus is in it too...there is a storm.. it’s a fierce storm. Jesus is sleeping. The men are not... These are experienced fishermen. They know danger. They wake him up. He awakes. He’s calm. They are not... He doesn’t even get up. “what is it?” He more or less says....”Save us!” they scream.... they are scared...He gets up... He rebukes the waves, the wind calms. They are all amazed in the boat...”who is this man??” They all say....He changed things for them...saved them... he made them wonder....
Some time later… days, maybe weeks….Time has passed... they have spent more time with Him... more witnessing...more stories ... more miracles too....they know him better. They wonder less now. But still…there is always something….Then he feeds 5000 people....5000!… how is this possible??
Then he “immediately” tells them to go out in the boat....on their own. Why alone? They don’t question..but he doesn’t go...He dismisses the crowd. Then He goes to the hills... to pray....Then a second storm… they are out most of the night..... alone....in the dark... they are still fisherman...experienced ones... Are they afraid? We don’t know...probably…
At dawn He goes to them.... like later...from where?...there is panic....they see someone... on the water...how can this be? “it’s a Ghost” they say... in fear...not because of the storm...... or the water...”take courage... it is I... fear not...” they’re not sure... How could they be? Should they be?
Peter responds.... why only Peter? Did he remember the first time in the boat—- when He saved them…Did the others forget?
“if it’s you, tell me to come to you....”
“Come”, He said....
Peter does. A few steps at first....on water....but how? He must have been euphoric....In his walk... in his faith...Then he looks around, perhaps down... what does he see? He’s looking around at something.. at everything! but not at Jesus... why did he look away? he falters....trouble... he sinks... sinking in a storm... in the water…“Oh Lord save me!” Jesus reaches out.. immediately....saves him. “ Why did you doubt me...??” “You have little faith...” then they climbed into the boat and when they did... the wind stopped. Then all are amazed in the boat.... and they worshiped Him. “you are the Son of God” they say....
So what did we learn...many things ..but what stood out.... Only Peter got out of the boat….not the others..... his faith grew....there’s did too....but not in the same way.... they watched.... he walked....that was different...his experience....it kept growing.... Differently...Read about him....how he lived. How he changed things. How he died.... how he chose to die....
His faith was little. Mine is little...yours may be little too…
But that’s all He asks..not big.... little.
Can little work? I think so.... He says so....
So….we all have boats.. storms too...What are we doing in our boats… during our storms…
What if we got out?