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

Water is life. We are all made of mostly water and yet too many want to control the water, keeping it from others so they can have abundance. Water can also bring death when it rises and floods, when storms capsize boats and when we are caught in a riptide and pulled out to sea. Water is elemental to all of life, and so it is fitting that Jesus comes to his disciples on the water, calming them and the winds. We often find ourselves in storms, we struggle and strain and get no further and are swamped. Yet Jesus is with us, right in the midst of our fragile lives, walking to us, reaching out to us, and calming the gales. Jesus always comes to us in the storms of our lives and is truly with us in every moment. Hang on, the Savior is coming!

Wondrous Creator, you stir up and calm the storms

you are woven into every part of our daily lives

you help us get up when we are bowed down

and rescue us from capsizing over and over again.

Our hands are rubbed raw pulling at the oars

our throats are raw from crying out in the might

our backs are weary from trying to follow you

and we feel as if the water will overcome us all.

Jesus, draw near today to all who are sinking

let your presence lift us up from all danger

make us strong again so we can continue to serve

sharing your compassion and mercy for all today. Amen.