Quiet And Be Still

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” 

The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:35-41)

Have we ever “crossed to the other side” to listen to an opposite point of view especially when disagreements feel like violent squalls with waves of anger breaking over our boats – and within our families?  Competing politics can create tidal waves of conflict and can make us feel like our close relationships are fracturing and even perishing.  The same can be said for our federal government, so it appears.

Whether from politics or any other cause of anger and bitterness, Jesus tells us to wake up.  To be quiet and be still.  "Stop being terrified" is his command.  If the wind and sea obey him, then why not us?

Deacon David Pierce