IN MY BOAT ⛵

 When I was a catechist at St. Anthony's parish, Vakola, Mumbai, there was an action song I loved teaching the children. It goes like this: 

With Jesus in my boat,

I can smile at the storm

Smile at the storm (2)

With Jesus in my boat

I can smile at the storm

When I'm sailing home. 

The children loved doing the 'smiles' and the 'sailing home' bits just as much as I did! I did wonder though how Jesus could have slept through that storm. The story fascinated and puzzled me. 

Recently, I discovered the reasons why. One was earthly, the other heavenly. 

Jesus had just preached the whole day. He had planned a quiet retreat with his disciples on the other side of the lake. He was exhausted, physically, mentally, emotionally. That is the earthly reason. 

But, a storm is a storm. You cannot SLEEP through a storm. So, what was Jesus' other reason for not waking up?  

IT WAS  💯% FAITH IN HIS FATHER. 

And, he wanted to teach this faith to his disciples. Remember what the disciples said to Jesus when they were waking him up? 

"Teacher, don't you care...?"

What did Jesus do? The God of the Universe stood up, raised his hands and STILLED the STORM. IMMEDIATELY, the wind died down and there was a great calm.  

A dramatic moment! 

And, then came the gentle admonition. 

"HAVE YOU STILL NO FAITH?"

The disciples were naturally terrified. They exclaimed, "Who is this man whom even the wind and the waves obey?"

This story also reminds me of another storm that Jesus calmed. 

In this story, Jesus is NOT in the boat. He sends his disciples back while he stays back to pray. 

Just before this happens, the storm, I mean, the disciples have witnessed a great miracle - The Feeding of the Five Thousand. For those who may not know this story, please read Mark 6:30-44. Mark does not mention how they got the five loaves and two fishes but after Jesus was done praying, he was able to feed five thousand men, not including the women and children. And there were twelve baskets of leftovers!

Let's now come back to the boat with the disciples in it, heading towards Bethsaida. Jesus can see them struggling against the wind but he continues praying and does not go to their aid. 

Then, at the fourth watch, which is around 6 am, Jesus decides to walk on water and reach the land they were heading for before them. As he passes by, the disciples scream in terror. A Ghost! 

So, Jesus stops WALKING ON WATER and tells them not to be afraid. I really love what happens next.  Jesus gets into the boat and THE STORM STOPS. Just like that. It stops. 

With Jesus in my Boat

The Storm Just Ceases

I Feel No Fear 

With Jesus in my Heart

I Can Face the Storm

Embrace and Endure it.

In Mathew's Gospel, we see something added which Mark does not mention. It is Simon Peter's reaction. This brave but rather brash fisherman says with bravado, "Lord, if it is you, then call me to come to you." Jesus simply says, "COME.". 

And, it says very clearly that Simon actually WALKED on WATER but when he looked at the wind instead of Jesus, he started sinking. In his desperation, he cried out instinctively, " Lord, save me!"  Jesus saves him with a gentle admonition: 

"Why did you doubt?" 

Whenever you are in your own personal storm, it would be good to remember these stories. With Jesus in my boat, I CAN smile at the storm even though I may not feel like doing so. Every storm has to end, but what happens to me during the storm will determine whether I survived or succumbed. So, 

EMBRACE the STORM. ENDURE the TEST.  EMERGE VICTORIOUS.