The storms of life
Day 294, Sunday, June 1
Mark 6:30 – 7:23
One of the frequent images we use in hymns and in preaching is the storm—those times in life when we are tossed around by wind and waves and nothing seems secure and the sky is so dark God seems nowhere to be found.
We read about one of the biblical precedents for this image in today’s reading as the disciples are crossing the sea and a storm comes up, leaving them foundering and in fear for their lives.
Then, to make matters even worse, they think they see a ghost.
The “ghost” they see, though, is Jesus walking on the water. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid,” he tells them. He then climbs in the boat with them and the wind dies down.
By coincidence we come to this reading on June 1: the first official day of hurricane season when our thoughts turn to wind and waves, and the fearful question returns of whether this will be our year to get a storm.
Many of us have mentally gone through the annual checklist, making sure to have batteries and candles on hand in case of a power failure, and non-perishable food to eat and water to drink.
Maybe this is a good time to also do a spiritual inventory of how prepared we are for whatever storms may be over the horizon headed our way.
The disciples, Mark said, were amazed when the winds died down, “for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.”
Right before the storm Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Somehow, though, the disciples failed to learn the lesson that God provides, even when things look most desperate.
We don’t know what the weather will bring this year, or what life will bring. We do know, though, that God knows our needs even before we do, and will provide.

Sunday meditation

Proverbs 29:9-11
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Prayer focus
When the storms of life are raging, Lord, stand by us.

-Rev. Mark Fleming