STORMY SLEEP

Wednesday, June 20

Mark 4: 36-41 (The Message)

“A huge storm came up.  Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.  And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping.  They roused him, saying, ‘Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?’ Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Settle down!’  The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.  Jesus reprimanded the disciples: ‘Why are you such cowards? Do you have any faith at all?’  They were in absolute awe, staggered. ‘Who is this, anyway?’ they asked ‘Wind and sea at his beck and call!’”

     Who is this anyway?  Is he indifferent to the disciples implied danger?  Who is this anyway, who sleeps through the storm.  Indifferent?  No!  Confident in his God, YES!

     When the storms of life inevitably rage around us – divorce, war, economic loss, death, natural disasters, disease – it is so easy to ask, “Where is God? Is God out to lunch?  Is God sleeping on the job? Doesn’t God care?  How can God LET this happen?”  Of course God cares!  Of course God is present! 

    The point of the parable is not that God delivers us FROM storms of life, but he always leads us THROUGH them.  We are back to that trust issue again.  Who is in control of our life:  God or ourselves?  Rather than assume the divine has jumped ship, we need to reach out and hold Christ’s hand, and trust him to lead us through the storm.  Have faith.  Have courage.  Even the worst of storms will be calmed through God’s presence.  In God’s time.  

PINE NUTS

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Mark 4:30-32 (The Message)

“How can we picture God’s kingdom?  What kind of story can we use?  It’s like a pine nut.  When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches.  Eagles nest in it.”

     I can just see Jesus pausing and asking himself, ‘How can I explain this in terms they’ll understand?  It’s so BIG a concept!  The comparison is not to the seed itself, but to the potential within the seed, the power to transform to something mighty.  God is working that same miracle in the seed of each of us.  We are often impatient in ourselves and with others, wanting the seed to mature quickly – to see results now!    But that’s OUR garden schedule.  God nurtures and grows the Kingdom on HIS seasonal calendar – and a sturdy strong tree, a life of seasoned faith, takes time to mature.  Our job in the garden is to trust that the Master Gardener knows what he is doing and is in control.  Our job is to keep growing strong and let God be God!