I live in a pretty large apartment complex. Post-blizzard, my car just had a dusting of snow on it, and heaps of snow behind it... the wind had been so intense, drifting was much more debilitating for the cars than actual covering... and that was true for the dozen or so cars that park on my side of the building... except one. One car had become an enormous drift all by itself. I mean, it had well over two feet of snow over every part of it, except a bit of the trunk. I knew who the owner was, and I was actually standing at my window when he came out and saw his car... he was casually stepping outside to smoke a cigarette... but he froze when he saw his car... threw his cigarette on the snowy steps, and stomped back into the building.
If he wasn't a believer in a higher power before, surely now he is... and if he still isn't, I think he will answer for his disbelief in the sight of such an epic joke.
Storms :
I'm in Mark right now. It is such good stuff... such good, good stuff. Chapter 6, verses 45-52 have been on my mind so much this week. There is a lot to say about Jesus sending his disciples off in that boat, and then watching from a distance while they struggled and failed to make any headway across the water... and then he set out across the water--on foot, of course--and was going to walk on by (v. 48--and I think... it would have diminished his glory not at all if he had kept walking... did you know those guys still didn't believe in him? They had just seen him feed thousands, and they responded with suspicion and disbelief... it is an overflow of perfection and kindness which makes him stop and be merciful... not a necessity.... ) but his disciples see him, are terrified at his presence, and cry like pansies.
Jesus says, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
Notice what he doesn't say:
- "This storm is almost over."
- "You can handle this."
- "This won't kill you."
Because the storm might have gone on for days, they might have been completely inadequate for it, and it might have just killed them... but that really wasn't the point.
Jesus--the person--should drive out fear. Who he is (God incarnate) and what he has done (mercifully given us his utter goodness, and born all our wrath) is the only real source of utter peace and joy. The sight of him should put into perspective all we have and all we need and all the glory that awaits us.
At the end of the story, they are all "utterly astounded"... not a lot of worshipful thankfulness going on. "...for they did not understand about the loaves (or the healings or the storm he just quelled, or the walking on water) and their hearts were hardened."
As it turns out, the weather had been the least of their perils.
Unless their hearts were changed... to place confidence and find joy and peace and hope in the person of Jesus... they were merely walking around doomed.
I find myself wanting to hear those three lines: "This is almost over." "You can handle this." "This won't kill you." Which makes me think... there is so much my heart doesn't hear or see or understand. So, I don't judge those apostles... but I am desperately thankful for a savior who doesn't walk on by.
Scenes:
A young strong arm around frail and faltering shoulders... a touch of comfort and warmth... a head stooped low and close to explain things the older ears and mind can no longer sort and make sense of on their own.
Many, many voices lifted eagerly and happily and so loudly in unison with the triumphant words: "redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die... and shall be till I die..."
So many accents... so many types of people... maybe someday I will get used to that... but I kind of hope not.
A flock of birds... of every possible sort... alighting on a feast of seeds across the depths of snow... did you know birds survive blizzards? They do. And they don't even complain about it... I should consider them more often.
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