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Topic: Water (04/26/04)
TITLE: He who controls the wind and the waves By Sara Westhead 04/27/04 |
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It only took a moment and they were gone. No one could have predicted the power of the water as it washed across the bridge and carried two cars and four lives away forever.
On September 5, 2003, Bermuda was devastated by the powerful winds of Hurricane Fabian. Most of the island was without power or telephones for days on end. Countless homes were destroyed and roofs lost. Massive trees blocked roads. But the greatest loss to the community was the deaths of four of our own – PC Stephen Symons, PC Nicole O’Connor, Gladys Saunders and Manuel Pacheco.
No one will ever know what these four experienced as they saw the waves come crashing over their cars, pushing them into water and carrying them out to sea. No one will ever know how much they suffered or how long they survived in such conditions. And unfortunately, their bodies were lost to the great depths. Only one car was recovered.
* * * * *
Simon Peter and Andrew battled the till of the small fishing boat as the waves crashed over the sides. Brothers James and John fought to keep the worn sail from tearing in the force of the wind. Matthew and the other disciples really didn’t know what to do, other than to hold on for dear life.
They could see the storm roll in over the sea of Galilee, but there was little that the group could do to save themselves. They were too far from shore to make a landing before the storm reached them.
“Maybe it won’t be as bad as it looks,” John said, trying to calm his non-mariner friends, all the while hoping against hope that he would be right.
Their Master had been busy teaching all through the day. He had finally found a moments peace and had lain down with his head on a roll of cloaks to sleep as they travel across the water.
His disciples really did not want to wake him unless it was necessary, but now, they didn’t know what else to do. Their hearts were full of fear and they were sure that they were about to meet their maker.
“Master, Master!” shouted Philip, trying to wake his beloved teacher. “How can you still sleep? Don’t you know what is going on around you? Don’t you know that we’re going to die in this storm?”
Without a word, the Master rose and calmly spoke the word, “Peace.” Within an instant, the water calmed and the sky was blue.
He turned to them and asked, “Where is your faith?”
* * * * *
In our life, we face many storms. Some are small; more like inconveniences. Others seem like they have the power to completely wipe us off our feet.
The storm that these four Bermudians faced was very real and very literal, however, although the signs of Fabian’s visit are slowly disappearing, their families continue to face a daily Fabian in their lives.
Where can they find the strength to carry on?
When we face trials and struggles in our lives, in whom do we put our trust?
When Jesus asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?” it frightened them. Their response was, “What matter of man is this? For he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
It is in Christ that we find our hope. It is Christ who is our anchor in the storm.
Are you trusting in your own strength, or in the one who commands the wind and the waves?