Wind and Waves

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:35-41


Wind and Waves

You cradled me as a child
your salt water helping me swim
your gentle waves upon the shoreline
my night time lullaby and then seranade.

I have floated across your surface
sailed across from harbor to harbor
been rocked at night as west bound freight
and prayed in the dune as the sun set.

You are life and can become terror incarnate
you are food and can starve us with fear
no one can control you or direct you
you have us in your sweet and dangeous hands.

You respond to the pull of the turning moon
rising up high and elegant in due season
you hide your treasures dark and deep
you only listen to the child from Galilee.

Your lessons are clear and abundant
we cannot control our lives or your seas
our fears and needs will make us cry out
we are bound to call upon the Lord.

Your majesty,  your coastlines remind me
My life is small and unworthy of saving
your closeness and familiarity tell me
that we are bound together in life.

The Divine is more than all the oceans
and we are less than all we imagine
and yet we are loved beyond reckoning
rescued beyond our inherent value.











Collect
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.