Good morning…
God sparks in me a quirky reading of Matthew 8:23-26 (NIV).
Then Jesus got in the boat and his disciples followed him…they sailed on to Christmas morn. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake… “What if I don’t get everything done?” “How do I allow my ‘difficult person’ to change my entire mood?” “Why do I self medicate, over eating and over drinking, over spending and over analyzing?” …so that the waves swept over the boat. Raging. Revved up. Relentless.
But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us!” Save us from over doing everything, gifts, stress, fear. Save us from the overwhelming avalanche of more, more, more. With our thinning patience and unmet expectations, save us from spewing anger on our family and friends, strangers in line and drivers on the road. “We are going to drown.” Our true self is drowning, submerged beneath the pressure to be with, to do for, and to accomplish all, all at once.
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” “Do you not believe our Heavenly Father is nurturing every need?” “Can you have faith that essentials will get done and all that will remain is the love you give away?” “Trust me, I’ll share with you God’s peaceful power, so why are you so afraid?”
Then Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Tucked in the ever presence of the gentle Jesus, we too can be completely calm.
I come to you for shelter.
Protect me, keep me safe,
and don’t disappoint me.
I obey you with all my heart,
and I trust you, knowing
that you will save me (Psalm 25:20-21, CEV).
Today, let’s wake up the sleeping Jesus each time fear’s furious storm begins to rage.
…Sue…
