The older I get, the harder I find it to stay asleep through the whole night. Squawking birds, rumbling trucks, flushing toilets, the dog pacing downstairs- something’s always waking me up. So I find it hard to imagine Jesus sleeping on a rocking boat in the midst of a violent storm. Perhaps he was really tired. Or maybe we’re to understand Jesus’ peacefulness in the midst of chaos as a contrast to the panic of his disciples. They had freaked out. But they wouldn’t have done so, according to Jesus, if only they’d had faith.
Are there things in our life that we’re anxious about, but shouldn’t be? Things that lead us to say to the Lord: “How come you aren’t paying attention? Don’t you see how important this is? Aren’t you concerned about my well-being and happiness? Are you asleep?”
At times we’re all tempted to think that God doesn’t care. But God does care. It’s just that he doesn’t always see things we way we do. That’s why we need faith. With faith, we can purify our perspectives, priorities, and expectations. With faith, we remember that while God always gives us what we need, he doesn’t always give us what we want. With faith, we can be grateful for what we have instead of frustrated over what we don’t. With faith, we can be happy in the present instead of thinking that we’ll only be happy in a future that may never come. With faith, we understand that everything happens for a reason. With faith, we’re assured that God is always with us, surrounding us with love, giving us the grace to do what he wants us to do. With faith, we’ll know the peace that only Jesus can give.
Life can indeed be hard. But as he was with his disciples, Jesus is in the same boat with us. He invites us to faith, so he can replace our “violent storms,” with “great calm.”
Readings for today’s Mass: http://www.usccb.org/nab/062811.shtml
Photo Credit: Alcino via Creative Commons
A hurricane is one of the most outstanding and powerful storms yet, at the eye (or centre) is a great calm. I try not to forget that the calm at the eye of the storm is part of the storm.
Where the raging horrors of the storm is centred we find a serenity which shows what a great and wonderous balance God has put in his creations – even at extreme ends.
And what is balance and where is centred one may ask (or not) and feel that both may be found at the geographical centre. Like people who are considered eccentric; a word from the Greek ekkentros – “out of centre” and may imply unbalanced to many.
Consider though, the geographical centre of a disc cut from a material of uniform density and thickness is also the centre of balance. However, if the original material is not uniform in density and/or thickness then the geographical centre may not be the centre of balance, so I find myself further inspired to try to keep learning from Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37. “Judge not…”
Including when deciding if the term, or appelation, of “eccentric” is useful.
Such so called people may well be calmer at their centre of balance than I am at mine so, since I’m not qulaified to judge or rule I continue to try improve my own imperfections and share the benefits with others. Even though I do so imperfectly and in a stormy emotional state, at times.