Walk By the Sea

As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4:18-25 

Walk By the Sea

Dear Creator of this island home
you made the wonders of the sea
the birdsongs and the lightning
for us to enjoy yet we cannot.

The beaches where we ache to be
digging our toes into the warm sand
dipping our feet into the cold surf
we cannot go there to be renewed.

You called your followers from nets
when you walked by the inland sea
that place of origin of day dawning
is presently far off from all our needs.

Draw us in to the stories of following
make us disciples who go where you lead
far from our normal comfortable safety
and into the present where need is great. Amen