Storm Clouds

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41

A crystal blue sky gives way to night
daylight swallowed by an angry cloud
shadows lengthen and deepened until
we are swallowed by the stormy dense
thunder rumbles until we are shaken
from the bed.

I thought we were secure a future well planned
the days routine and reliable regular
predictable and known, a map and a compass
and a well filled calendar set the limits
of our days.

Then trouble erupted like an earthquake shaking
anger and fear loose from their hiding places
they crawled out hungry and irritated desperate
for a kill and something to tear to pieces.

The horizon tilted the sea exploded our hearts shrunk
with the fear of death and destruction
our stomachs heaved and tears poured as we grasped
the gunwales of our little vessel
we muttered prayers we hardly knew.

And through the storm we found an anchor
a silent calming face, a hand on our shoulders
a sweet savior who had make friends with the wind
who lived beyond the restless sea and brought us home.

The seas still rage my friends and clouds gather
mighty anger is all around us and safety is far off
but we are snug in the bow of his boat
we are promised a land fall and a safe harbor
and all the while God goes with us
into the face of the grieving storm.