Calming the Storms of Life
It is good for us to gather together this morning, as people of God, to worship and praise God in this season after Pentecost; this Ordinary Time. During this long summer-into-autumn season of growth, the scripture readings take us deeper into the story of how the first disciples live out their calling to follow Jesus, to share the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, and to grow the church. Through these stories, we can be strengthened in our faith and in our resolve to follow Jesus, share the good news and grow the church.
Our gospel story this morning is, perhaps, a familiar one – the story of Jesus calming the storm. In this story, Jesus has had a busy day teaching his followers on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He says to his disciples “Let us go across to the other side”. So they all get in a boat and set out to cross the Sea. Suddenly, a great windstorm rises up (a common event on this particular Sea) and the waves are beating against the boat, crashing over the sides and filling the boat with water. The chaos of the storm is overwhelming. The disciples, most of whom have experience fishing on this Sea, become afraid.
Where is Jesus and what is he doing? In the middle of the chaos – in the middle of the storm – Jesus is in the back of the boat (the stern) sleeping. Jesus is exhausted from his work among the people during the past few days, as he travels around the countryside teaching and showing them that the kin_dom of God has come near. Increasing numbers of people have heard him speak or seen him heal people or watched him break the rules (of healing on the Sabbath). The crowds around him are getting bigger and demanding more of his attention. It’s exhausting and chaotic work. So Jesus takes time to rest and falls asleep in the boat.
Jesus has the habit – the practice – of going off by himself to pray – getting away from the chaos of his disciples and the demands they make for answers and certitude; getting away from the chaos of the crowds and the demands they make on his body – to heal them and feed them and teach them; getting away from the chaos of Roman occupation and its demands for conformity and compliance with the status quo.
Jesus has the practice of settling his body into the space where he finds himself; calming his mind and his body; settling into the Holy Spirit; connecting with God. Even in the middle of chaos and a storm at sea, Jesus finds rest and peace. Jesus sleeps through the storm.
What do the disciples do? In the middle of the chaos – in the middle of the storm – They panic and call out to Jesus as he sleeps. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”.
Of course Jesus cares. The disciples wake Jesus up; he rebukes the wind and calms the sea – “Peace! Be still!”.
Notice how Jesus responds to the chaos and the storm when he is woken up – calmly, decisively; he engages directly with the storm in the moment; without fear; without backing down; without overreacting; without fleeing the situation. He has had time to rest his body and soul and now he responds from a place of spiritual strength and calmness and peace.
Settling our bodies into the space where we find ourselves, as Jesus does in this story, is a spiritual practice. By calming our bodies, focusing on our breath, slowing down our minds, we come into the presence of God, where the breathe of the Holy Spirit surrounds us and sustains us, and we find rest. In the quiet of the moment, we hear Jesus say to us “Peace! Be still!”.
I use the spiritual practice of settling my body into the space I find myself frequently, during my own prayer time, in communal prayer groups I attend, or at the beginning of meetings that I lead. I do this as a way to connect with God; to come into a holy place; to be open to the Holy Spirit surrounding us with wisdom and to hear the voice of Jesus calm the storm around us.
The spiritual practice of settling our bodies into the space we find ourselves takes only a few minutes. Here’s how it’s done:
- sitting in a chair – put your feet on the floor – feel the ground beneath you
- wriggle you body a little until it relaxes and becomes still
- open your hands; let them relax against your body
- close your eyes
- breath in deeply; breath out slowly
- listen to the stillness; to the quiet
- pay no attention to the random thoughts that enter your head; let them float out of your head
- wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fill you with peace
We live in a chaotic and stormy world, where strong winds are blowing all around us and waves of despair are crashing over us. The storms of life can be personal – the death of a loved one; the unexpected loss of a job; a devastating medical diagnosis; the end of a relationship. The storms of life can be collective – affecting the town in which we live; our community of faith; our state; our country and our world – climate change; racial injustices; economic and healthcare inequalities; violence and war. The storms of life can be overwhelming. We become afraid.
It’s in times like these that the spiritual practice of settling into your body can make a positive difference to your sense of wellbeing.
The good news for today is we are not alone in the chaos and storms of life. Jesus is with us.
The good news for today is that Jesus cares what happens to us in the chaos and the storms. Jesus wants us to have life and to have it abundantly.
The good news for today is that when we settle our bodies into the space we find ourselves, we will find rest in God’s presence. Soon we will hear Jesus say to us “Peace! Be still!”
Trust that peace. Be still and know that God is God.
To God be the glory. Amen.