Walking on water

Mark 6:47-56

          I once knew a woman named Johanna. Johanna was someone that I universally admired and she, by example, taught me a great many things. I know it would not be well accepted by some but I think she actually sowed the seeds of my coming out. It was a slow germination but she sowed the seeds none the less. In any event, she once told me that I could see the silver lining in anything. I guess it was my positive outlook on things which perhaps bordered on denial of facts. No matter what happened in life I could see the positive side of it. Highly spiritual or crazy man? Maybe a crazy man struggling to find peace in spirituality.

            People who are so upbeat or seem to wear rose colored glasses are not always well liked.  People seem quite aware of all the troubles of life. I know quite a few who like to wallow in their problems. There are many times where all we seek is someone to commiserate with. Sharing a problem they say cuts the burden in half (at least).

            I was imagining Jesus then walking on water. Above, perhaps beyond the turmoil of the wind and sea, above life with seemingly none of the concerns that we all seem to face daily. I read a book once called the Gospel According to Biff, it was 'out there' but it was thoroughly enjoyable. In this book Jesus was a world traveller who was exposed to the Eastern religions before his public ministry. This walking on the water seems to fit right into that persona of Jesus.  One thing is for sure to me, when you have Jesus at your side (or carrying you: think footprints in the sand), you fear nothing. With the faith of a mustard seed Psalm 23:4 comes alive for us. No matter what happens, we know we will not be harmed or at least not in a way that threatens our soul. 

            With Jesus at your side you can face anything and be hopeful, even cheerful. Such faith is how the martyrs met their fate willingly and at complete inner peace.  I pray we are never faced with such a mortal test but I do know faith makes it as if we could walk on water.

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.