Peace

Peace

Saturday 20 June 2015

Facing the Cyclones of Life



Goliath is the most well-known giant in the Bible. Today, even those totally unfamiliar with the Bible will recognize an allusion to David and Goliath. We assume the simplest interpretation of the reference: God saves the little guy and defeats the bully. The Gospel scripture introduces a new set of bullies. The wind and the sea roar and rise to create quite a scary situation for the disciples. Anyone who lives in the path of hurricanes or cyclones knows well the fear seeing a set of waves rolling in. Having lived at times in my life in Darwin, the Solomon Islands and Townsville here in Australia I can vouch the anxiety such waves produce. Travelling on a Ferry even in a mild storm was enough for a bad sailor like me. 

Natural disasters press in like an angry Goliath, ready to pounce on what lies in their path. David and Jesus respond to these giants in similar ways. We often assume God gives David, with pint size and small frame, the physical ability to slay the giant. We often assume that when we cheer for David, we are cheering for God to produce a miracle in us when we face the giants in our lives. What we forget is what David and Jesus both knew. The powers they used to tackle the giants before them are not temporary steroids or super powers. David and Jesus both know their power comes from God.
David knows full well he cannot take on Goliath with his own powers. That is why he is the only one among his brothers not paralysed with fear. David knows he can take Goliath down because the strength of the Lord is with him. Jesus calms the waters in the same way. Their faith in the power of God allows them to slay their giants. Their faith also demonstrates to those seized by fear and doubt that faith in God is a primary weapon in slaying giants of all kinds, including the modern-day giants we face. 

You know Gods time and our time dont always seem to mesh. Were so rushed; we rarely seem able to wait for Gods action. But when the acceptable time comes, when God acts, we dont always seem ready to respond! Jesus preached that the time was now the kingdom of God has arrived. Do we miss the message? Are we late? What a description in Corinthians from Paul of how he sought to meld himself and his ministry. Can you apply these descriptors to yourself? What would your list look like? Paul says he and his cohorts have had no restriction in our affection for the Corinthians, and calls them to open wide your hearts also. It is hard to live without putting conditions on our love of others. How open are your hearts?

In Scotland, they have many superstitions surrounding boats. In many of the northeast fishing villages, it used to be considered unlucky for the fishermen to catch sight of any women on their way to the harbour in the early morning. It is said that some would turn around and go home rather than take their boat out after such a bad omen. A few years ago, a chaplain a woman - to a local shipbuilding yard, was asked to bless a ship before her launching ceremony, which was performed by Her Majesty the Queen. While Her Majestys part in the proceedings was an honour for those who had commissioned the vessel, the woman ministers contribution caused some murmurs of amusement and wonder. 

She thank God was, of course, delighted to have caused even such a minor storm in a teacup, and took the comments in the spirit of good humour in which they were offered. She had a deep respect for the sea, alongside which she was born and had always lived close by the sea. The power and energy of water is immense and commands respect. She had witnessed the calm mirror like surface of the river and the sea becoming a boiling cauldron without warning. So she understood how a tired out Jesus could sleep easily in the stern of a boat, cradled, rocked, and nurtured by the sea. From such a slumber, it seems natural that he, so at one with the elements, should be able to rebuke them and bring calm. This is the same Lord, so in tune with us, children of his creation, that he brings the same peace into our stormy lives. Jesus, who entered the boat just as he was, continues to demonstrate his sufficiency for us just as he is at one with all creation.

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