Sunday, June 21, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009


Read Acts 27:13-38

Have you noticed the number of Old and New Testament stories that take place either on mountains or in the wilderness? A careful reading suggests that those locations represent two different spiritualities. Typically, God is manifested on a mountain, while the wilderness is a barren place where one is more likely to be tempted than to encounter God.

And what about the biblical "sea tales"? Yesterday's preaching text recounted Jesus' stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee, much to the surprise of the frightened disciples. This reading from Acts speaks of Paul caught up in a terrible storm, along with 275 shipmates.

The sea is often spoken of as a place of chaos. Perhaps the spirituality of the sea addresses those times when God is present in chaos. Given the circumstances of life in these last months, it is a spirituality which I embrace. Regardless of the external circumstances of your life or mine, we are not alone. God is with us. Thanks be to God.

Raging waves of pain break all around us
and squalls howl through our lives.
From sinking boats, we call,
"We are going down!
Jesus, save
us."
O
calm
our storms.

"Quiet! Be still,"
we long to hear you say.
Give us faith to know, through
breeze or undertow, sunny day or gray,
that you never leave our boats. Make our ride holy,
Lord of wind and sea.

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