stormy seas

"When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,

embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.

It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.

When they had rowed about three or four miles,

they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,

and they began to be afraid.

But he said to them, 'It is I. Do not be afraid.'

They wanted to take him into the boat,

but the boat immediately arrived at the shore

to which they were heading."

(Jn 6:16-21)

Imagine being in a rowboat on rough seas - and in the dark. I think it's fair to say that most of us haven't had that experience, but we can imagine that it would probably be fairly unnerving. It would be even more unnerving if one of your friends came walking on the water toward your rowboat on that stormy sea. 

So, it's no big surprise that the apostles, maybe a bit shaken by the stormy sea - though likely not terrified, since most of them were fishermen and had spent plenty of time on the water - are scared when they see Jesus walking toward them over the water. Jesus makes no explanation, but identifies himself to them, and then tells them, "Do not be afraid." 

As usual, I think there's an analogy here for us, and for our experiences. We're all cast out on the sea known as life, in our rowboats, trying to stay afloat in the midst of darkness, in the midst of all kinds of storms. Of course, in times when the water is calm, rowing is easy; and when it's light out, it's much easier to find our way. But at night, in the "darkness," it becomes much more difficult to navigate. Add in a storm or two, and uh-oh, Houston, we have a problem.

In the darkness, in the midst of storms, God often asks us to do things that are not easy. In a sense, he walks toward our boat in the darkness - when we recognize that it is him, and he is asking us to do something hard, we become afraid - perhaps in part because we simply wanted him to calm the storm! Here he is, asking something difficult of us, and all the while telling us not to be afraid. Seriously?!?!?

But he also identifies himself... he tells us who he is, that it is indeed him, "It is I," the I AM. That identification is powerful when it spurs recognition on our part. When we recognize Jesus, like the apostles did, we want to take him into our boat with us - in other words, we welcome his presence, and want to do what he is asking of us, however difficult. Sometimes we don't recognize him, or welcome his presence - but that's another post for another time. 

When we do recognize and welcome Jesus, we find that we are exactly where we are supposed to be - which is wherever he wants us. For the apostles, this was at the shore to which they were traveling - disembarking from the boat, and moving forward with Christ in his ministry. For us, maybe it's repairing a broken relationship, or doing something to help someone in need, or taking action to defend the dignity of human life, or even rededicating ourselves to recognizing and welcoming the transforming presence of Jesus in our lives. 

Sometimes, the rowing gets rough. Sometimes it's hard to see Jesus when he walks to us over the water, and sometimes it's hard to recognize his voice. Practice (prayer, and enduring trials) makes perfect - or at least, makes it easier to recognize his voice, and more eager to welcome him - knowing he comes to dispel our fears, and do good for us, even when he asks us to do difficult things. 

+pace, e bene.