Take Heart

 When evening 

came, the boat

 was out on the

 lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining

 at the oars against

 an adverse wind, 

he came towards them early in the morning, walking 

on the lake. He intended to pass 

them by. But

 when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost 

and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately

 he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ 

Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they

 were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the 

loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret

 and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at

 once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and 

began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid 

the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might

 touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were

 healed. Mark 6:47-56

Take Heart

Straining against the oars

gale force winds in our faces

we pull and strain together

inching backwards, never gaining.

All of our efforts, the hard work

back breaking daily labors

to carry the hope and dreams

just might be lost out here.

The fear builds up like fire

kindled in our empty bellies

we cannot stop for a minute

we cannot face this storm alone.

Across the roiling, rolling ocean

in dark shadowed alley ways

across impossible surfaces

love comes walking to us.

When we can no longer breathe

the heart no longer pumping

we are held in the hand of God

who whispers, it is I do not be afraid.