Calm Before the Storm

Sanibel Island Beach Path




"But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water." (Mark 4:37)

The Calm.

We had a wonderful vacation on Sanibel Island last week. Blue skies. Upper 70s. Gentle breeze. Delicious seafood. No exaggeration, we probably rode forty miles on a tandem bike exploring the island and watching the wildlife (including two alligators). A highlight was seeing parent ospreys "encouraging" their teenagers out of the nest. And for icing on the cake, our last evening there, we eye-witnessed the "green flash." (Every once in a while on this island famous for beautiful sunsets, just as the sun slips under the western horizon, a one-second flash of green light appears.)

The Storm.

Monday, our daughter-in-law was hospitalized for health complications. I was keeping the two-year-old and came down with appendicitis and was also hospitalized for surgery. I'm here to tell you that my Phillip and son, Dan, are supermen at taking care of sickly wives and a very energetic toddler.

In three of the four gospel, the story is told of a trip across a lake that began on smooth waters that quickly changed to a raging sea. Terrified, the disciples woke Jesus and said, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. To the disciples, Jesus said, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

In a storm, beloved? Call to Jesus, the one that even the wind and sea obey.