Feeling Sea Sick?
Motion sickness has always been a problem for me. Once I had to walk home because I couldn't ride in the car one more second. On the plane ride for a business trip I tried to read a book we would be discussing and I got so sick I threw up in the bushes at the car rental and spent the first part of the session nauseated. Thankfully, the cruises I've enjoyed were due to a prescription that left me blurry-eyed and made all the food taste weird. I'm happy to not enjoy any more cruises in my lifetime.
In the daily ebb and flow of life, it's so nice when everything is "smooth sailing". The sun rises beautifully, the birds chirp happily, coffee brews on time and everything is copasetic. That's how I like things to be. I hate for anything to be off kilter. I don't like anything to "rock the boat".
Right now, my boat is rocking...
When I reflect on this day, I'm hopeful that I'll see that it wasn't rocking as violently as it seems to be right now, but in the moment I'm feeling a bit queasy. My son is sick, my daughter is feeling distant, my husband is overworked, Jasper has a sore foot and Junior isn't eating...Never mind the list of things I have on my calendar and the fact that things keep interrupting my plan. My plan. You know, the one that keeps the ship sailing smoothly. The one that makes everything run like a well-oiled machine. That schedule that should be marked complete each day without any project or task left over for tomorrow...My list. My plan.
As I was complaining (to myself) about my morning being disrupted, I was reminded of the disciple who told Jesus he needed to bury his father and then he would be free to follow along with Him. Jesus said, "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." St. Matthew 8:21-22 KJV. To me, that was a reminder that my plan means nothing. His plan is what counts and as I commit to following it, I will be blessed. Everything always works out right with God's plan. Every time. Too bad He doesn't share His calendar on the Cloud...
The disciples followed Jesus onto a ship and a storm came along. A pretty wicked storm that caused the ship to be covered with waves. (vs. 24) Have you ever been on a ship that was in the middle of a body of water where you could not see land and the wind picked up? Have you experienced the constant crashing of the waves on the bow, the rushing of salt water splashing uncontrollably over the sides onto you and into the boat, over and over and over? It's daunting to think of, let alone experience; you would realize the power of things you cannot control as you render completely helpless against the constant movement and violent rocking.
The disciples were afraid. No doubt they could envision being tossed off the ship and into the dark waters. Maybe they were unable to swim, maybe it wouldn't have mattered if they could swim or not because the storm was so violent they would surely drown.
They went to Jesus, who was asleep.
I imagine Jesus laying on a bag of feed, or maybe a rolled up scrap of cloth was placed underneath his head. Somehow He was at peace, comfortable and rocked to sleep by the constant moving of the ship. (I can almost hear a lullaby playing as I create the vision in my mind...soft snoring barely audible...) Then, a group of men came running to Him with panicked voices yelling, "Lord, save us; we perish." (vs 25)- as it's written. I would translate that to, "LORD SAVE US!!!! WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!!" then adding, "SERIOUSLY!?HOW CAN YOU BE SLEEPING?!??!!"
Perhaps He slowly opened His eyes and saw their wide-eyed, hysterical faces and said, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Then, He probably pushed up to a sitting position, maybe rolled His eyes at them before He stood and raised His arms high finally rebuking the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (vs 26.)
Of course the men were flabbergasted, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" (vs. 27).
That's our Savior. Our King. The Captain of our ship!
So, today I calmly saunter up to Him and I say, "Hey there big guy...um, it'd be pretty awesome if you'd just, you know, calm all this down a bit...pretty please." I can do that, we have a cool relationship.
Seriously- I pray, "Heavenly Father, I'm putting my worries and problems in your hands today. I realize things could be so much worse, and I'm thankful that they aren't, but I'm asking that you take these hiccups from me and sort them out according to your will. Please give me clarity and guidance in order to carry out YOUR plan, and I'm thanking you right now for how you will bless. Thank you also for your continued mercy and your grace in all things, Amen".
All Aboard! Lifesaver in tow-God is in control!
