Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Conversation (face to face) (10/07/10)
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TITLE: Follow the Leader | Previous Challenge Entry
By Laury Hubrich
10/20/10 -
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They begged me to go below to get our Teacher. Honestly, I wanted to curl up under a tarp and weather the storm. A headache roared from deep inside. Why should the responsibility fall on me? I’m not their leader. They should follow someone else, someone brave and strong, without this chronic affliction.
My son stood at my side. I couldn’t let him down. Jakob’s robe brushed against my arm as we stumbled down the dark stairway together.
I couldn’t believe my eyes! Jesus lay on the cot, curled up fast asleep like an infant.
Jakob took over for me. He knelt at Jesus’ side and touched Him. “Teacher, a storm is upon us.”
Jesus opened His eyes and saw me towered over my son. He stood and stretched and wiped the sleep from His eyes.
I grew agitated as the seconds ticked away. “But Lord, the storm…”
He shushed me, not concerned at all.
Jakob took away precious moments doting over Jesus and Jesus accepted those ministrations. I wanted to box the boys’ ears. I heard the men shouting orders. I heard the crash of the waves. I knew the gravity of our situation, but I also knew that our Teacher was a miracle worker…a miracle worker who wasn’t moving or seeming to care about performing a miracle. He took his time.
The angrier I got, the calmer Jakob became. It occurred to me that I missed something in my walk with our Lord. Jakob knew. He understood. Yet, instead of being proud, I was indignant – angry with both man and boy.
Jakob noticed me, finally, and spoke to me like I was the child. “It’s okay, Father. All will be well. Jesus is with us.”
I kicked the empty bed. This made Jesus move even slower, if possible. He messed up the boy’s hair and teased him. He then sat back down and invited him to sit, also. “Jakob, how is it up there?” he asked.
“It’s pretty bad. The men are scared.” He tattled; if found out by the others, not only would his ears be boxed, but his behind paddled.
Jesus looked him in the eyes. “Why aren’t you scared?”
Jakob answered, “Because You’re here, and of course, Father – both my heroes.” Jakob looked down at his bare feet. “Teacher?”
“Yes?”
“I know I’m just a kid. I know the storm should scare me, and it does a bit, but I know all You have to do is go up there and speak to it.”
My mouth dropped open. My son? The audacity! Not only was he having a conversation with our Teacher, but He was telling Him what to do. Then I hung my head in shame. I thought, Oh, to have faith like Jakob! I found my voice, “Yes, Jesus, speak to the storm, please.”
With that plea, Jesus stood and followed Jakob up the steps. The boy stood brave and strong in front of the men with Jesus at his side. They stopped their whining. A boy that led the men? A first, indeed! Suddenly, wind whipped through the boat and Jakob fell into Jesus. Jesus scooped the boy up into His arms to safety.
Jesus looked at each man then at the sea. He held out His hand and said, “Peace! Be still.” He set Jakob down and whispered in his ear. They both smiled. The deafening noise stopped. The clouds rolled away. The blue sky showed up again. My head cleared.
With the storm gone, we threw our nets into the water and heaved and pulled to gather up our catch, all the while, my son, Jakob, sat with our Lord and talked. I listened in as much as possible. I wafted from proud to jealous, to ashamed of my attitude.
I decided I would take the time with Jesus at the campfire from now on; and when I hear Jakob sneak up behind us in the shadows, listening in, I will welcome him to sit with us. The child will lead; my child leads; my child led me to a greater understanding of my faith in Jesus. I couldn’t wait for that conversation with my Teacher, Jesus, and my son, Jakob.
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