Finding Rest in the Storm
In Love in Action Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “Without doing anything, things can sometimes go more smoothly just because of our peaceful presence. In a small boat when a storm comes, if one person remains solid and calm, others will not panic and the boat is more likely to stay afloat.”
During the Vietnam Conflict I was in the Navy assigned to a minesweeper, a small wooden ship made from mostly wood, brass, and other non-magnetic materials. When we were out in the wide sea of the Pacific, even the smallest wave caused some rocking and rolling of this tiny vessel. During the storms, of course, it was much worse and I spent many a sea-tossed moment with my head over the side. I remember that during these times a well-defined sense of panic set in. There was no other place to go! I could only wish that the storm would cease; that the water would calm. Of course, it did, eventually.
Life can sometimes feel like being in a small boat during a storm.
The Gospel of Mark (4:35-11) tells this story about Jesus crossing the water in a small boat:
Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Jesus was solid and calm, a peaceful presence, asleep in the back of the boat. While other, less faith-filled, folks panicked. This is understandable and is especially true when in the middle of the storm and there is no other place to go.
We sometimes struggle in our personal and congregational lives to not panic while we wait for turmoil to be over. But, with a practice of peaceful presence, we can find rest in the storm and come to have faith that the boat will stay afloat.
“Peace! Be still!”
With love,
