Pam's Perambulation

I well remember when I was about four or five, going on a family holiday to the Isle of Man.  The Isle of Man is a beautiful place.  Sadly it is in the middle of the Irish Sea.  Our voyage was very rough – and I was very sick!  Caught in the storm!

How much I love this story.  It is such a vivid account of the disciples being out with Jesus on the sea of Galilee, and getting caught in a storm.  It seems strange.  Though we call it a sea it is little more in size that say Lake Windermere.  How can one set off in perfect weather, only to get caught in a storm?  But when I had the privilege of going on the Sea of Galilee in 1997, we had a similar experience.  We set off in beautiful weather, but as we approached the mid-point in our voyage the mist had come down, and it was difficult to see very far.  And not long after we landed, the rain and winds began – and the next morning there were signs of a fair old storm – Sun loungers blown across the pool-side, and bent over trees.

Yet this story is not about the wildness of the storm – terrifying that it must have been – but of Jesus being there in the storm with them, and bringing his peace and stillness.  Storms blow up in life.  Job knew this more than most.  Yet in all his railing against God, he gets assurance that God is holding the world together.  He talks to Job from the whirlwind and reminds him that he made the world, gave it it’s foundations and boundaries, and continues to do so.

In that is someone to be trusted.  Storms, difficulties, troubles, hardships and calamities will happen.  Being one of God’s people does not stop that, it is the way of the world.  But the promise is that God remains with us in those.  He doesn’t abandon us.  He holds on to the world, and he holds on to us, bringing his peace and hope.  That seems to be such a recurring theme,  God’s message to us – “Peace, be still”, and the promise that whatever happens, whatever tosses us around, whatever calamities befall us – he is there – holding tight.

~ by pamjw on June 17, 2009.

Posted in Lectionary
Tags: peace, storm