Monday, September 29, 2008

Straining at the oars

Mark 6:45-52

What word of instruction do you hear?
Get into the boat. Jesus had just fed 5,000 men (and untold women and children) with just five loaves of bread and two fish. A miracle had occurred, and, despite the meager supplies, all ate and were filled. Everyone had all they needed. In fact, they had more than enough! After everyone had eaten, they took up 12 baskets full of leftovers. God had provided much more than they needed. But none of it would be wasted. It had to have been a powerful moment. I can only imagine how the disciples might have felt. Triumphant. Victorious. Confused.

They certainly seem to have felt content. They wanted to stay where they were. It was a good place. They had done a really good job. Things were going well. So let's just stay put.

But Jesus tells them to get into the boat. In fact, scripture says that Jesus made his followers get into the boat. He made them get into the boat and head out onto the lake without him. He made them go ahead. He stayed behind to pray.

It's tempting, isn't it? To stay put. To stay where we feel safe, successful, and well cared for. To stay where we have been nurtured and fed and blessed. I mean, what person in their right mind would want to leave a place of rest and abundance and security and head out into the unknown, where danger lurked, and high winds threaten to overturn your boat?

But Jesus tells us to go. Get into the boat. We've been fed. We've been blessed. We have witnessed the awesome power of God. That's great! But now it's time to go. Get in the boat. There's more for us to see and do and learn.

For what do you want to give thanks?
Jesus is with us in the boat. Jesus sees us when we are straining at the oars against an adverse wind. Jesus sees our struggles. He knows how hard it is. And he doesn't let us sink. He comes to us. He walks out to us. Above the struggles. Above the waves. Above all that threatens us and above all that frightens us and above all that seeks to wear us down. Jesus comes and will go ahead of us, and, if we call out to him, he will get right in the boat with us.

How have I missed the mark?
Sometimes, I get so busy, straining at the oars, that I fail to Jesus, out on the water, coming to rescue me. So I keep straining at the oars, trying to do it all by myself.

How is God present in this text?
God is the one who provides food for the journey, and God is the one who tells me to get into the boat, and God is the one who calms the storm that rages in my heart and in my world.

"I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me. Love lifted me.
When nothing else could help, love lifted me."
-- words by James Rowe

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