Jesus continues to say... "Peace, be still"

This was the scene above deck early one November morning as Ben and I made our way south along the Inter-coastal Waterway.  Up to that point, our voyage had been anything but peaceful.  

We had bounced down the Chesapeake propelled by gale force winds and dodged heavy harbor traffic in the dead of night as we entered Norfolk's busy seaport.  We were soaked to our skivvies by the heavy rains of a slow moving nor'easter, and chilled to the bone by an abnormally early arctic blast that coated the deck of "Sai Godiya" with ice.  

But when I crawled out of my sleeping bag and popped my head above deck on our 15th day on the water, the horizon seemed to be painted with gentle brush strokes of orange and azure, and the surface of the South Edisto River looked more like polished sapphire than tidal water stained by yellow/brown tannins.  It was as if...

Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)

I am part of a Christian tradition that believes Jesus wants us to speak to the winds of war and calm the sea of violence that threatens to flood the world with the blood of those who are caught in the crossfire.

It may seem that our words will do little to quiet the violence in inner city America, Eastern Europe, sub-saharan Africa, Syria and all the other places on our planet where injustice and violence seem to rule and reign.  But the body of Christ must continue to speak the words of Jesus.  

On a day when many of his followers deserted Jesus, he turned to the disciples and asked, "What about you? Do you want to leave as well?"  Peter replied, "Lord, who would we turn to?  Only you have the words of life!"

As the winds and waves of violence continue to wash over the world, we must continue the work and give voice to the words of Jesus. Let the Body of Christ continue to speak the words of Jesus! "Peace!  Be still!"

Be strong and courageous!  Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”