Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 25.06.2009 (Article Archived on 09.07.2009)

In this week’s readings, we hear about the storms that caused fear amongst the men in Jesus’ company, and how He appeared unconcerned, almost to the point of foolishness.

21 June 2009

Father’s Day

At least this is how it seemed to His companions.  But Jesus remained calm throughout the gale, the furious wind shrieking and the waves breaking over the gunwales of the boat.

As someone who once spent a lot of time on a small boat, I can attest to the fear that can be generated when the weather turns nasty.  And to the speed that a storm can come in!  One minute you can be enjoying a nice afternoon on the water, in the sun and calm.  The next, the beautiful blue sky turns threatening, the light breezes that have cooled you off get stronger, the rain starts, the fog rolls in, and you realize that it is really nature that is in charge!  You hunker down, reef in the sails, turn your little vessel properly into the wind to use every advantage and lessen the battering, and get ready to ride out the storm.

And in many cases, you start to pray.  You ask for God to watch over you in this time of turmoil, to carry you through it, to bring you safely to the other side of the storm.  And after a while, that is what happens.  The sun returns, the seas calm, the fierce winds subside, and the waves drop off.  And you are again safe and sound, if somewhat wet and battered.

In the Bible, so many stories revolve around water; life-giving water, cleansing water, and also, the sea.  I think it is because water is so important in our lives.  Without it we wouldn’t exist.  Without water, the ancients wouldn’t have been able to discover means of transport that allowed civilizations to spread.  Without water, the land masses wouldn’t exist.  

Water also provides some of the most beautiful vistas in our world.  Anyone who has stood by a riverbank, an ocean beach or a lake in the mountains can attest to the stunning beauty and majesty of the water. 

Storms, these horrible tantrums of nature that come and go; that can cause so much destruction, and rearrange the landscape, either temporarily or forever, are also reflections of our lives.  We all suffer storms as we go through our life.  There are good times and bad times.  Times when the sun shines, and we are happy and content.  And then, no matter who we are, something terrible can happen; something we have no control over; something that throws our world into chaos.  Often times, this storm causes us such pain that we think we might never recover, but we do.  We may never be the same person that we were, but we learn to live with the results of this storm, and to move on. 

This is the important lesson of the readings this week.  That if we have faith, like Jesus asks us, then we will survive the storms.  We will get through them by the grace of God, and move through the rough weather into the sunlight.  We will find that the sun can still shine, the breeze can be gentle and the warmth of the sun will once again warm our hearts.

So, in all the times of our lives when the storm clouds roll in with all their fury, may we remember to depend on our faith and have the strength to hold on until the storm passes.  And may I ask all of my fellow Islanders to support the Porter Memorial Playground Fund Adventure Run which takes place next Sunday, in any way that they can.  This is a grieving family’s light shining in the darkness; a way to create something positive out of a horrible tragedy.  It will be a memorial to the joy that this father and his precious little children, now lost to us, brought to those who loved them.  It will be a way to pass on this joy, when the children of Seaview School and the local community play there.

I’d also like to wish all the fathers in our lives, a very special wish for a Happy Father’s Day.  May God bless all the men in our lives who loved, guided and stood by us, especially through the dark times.