March 28, 2004	Read John 6:16-21
But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
LITTLE BOATS CAN SAIL IN BIG SEAS My mother had little sayings posted all over her house.  You know the kind:  a painted ceramic plaque bearing the words of the 23rd Psalm, a sampler stitched with the Lord’s Prayer, an elaborate cross stitch design of the Serenity Prayer: “God give me courage to change the things I can…” There were others, but the one I remember best is a wooden sign she had posted over the fireplace.  It was fully illustrated and said:  “Oh, Lord, the sea is so great … and my boat is so small.” My mother had a tough life.  She was a child of the Depression in the 1930s, bride of a soldier who was on the front lines in the 40s, solo parent of 3 kids while their father was fighting in Korea during the 50s, divorced and suddenly working mom of 4 in the 60s.  Eventually all the kids grew up and left home.  She never remarried and continued working until the end of her life.  She had to – she didn’t have enough money to retire.  That wooden sign over her fireplace pretty much summed up her life view:  Save me, Lord.  The sea is so great, and my boat is so small.  I think of my mother each time I hear the story of Jesus walking on the water, calming wind and waves.  Matthew and Mark also report the incident but, as John tells it, the disciples were out on a fishing boat, winds came up and waves got choppy, the fishers headed for shore, and suddenly they saw a figure walking on the water toward the boat.  Not accustomed to seeing people walk on water, they were terrified.  Jesus called out to them, “It is I.  I AM. Don’t be afraid.”  Are the high seas about to swamp your little boat? Look out over the water. You’ll see Jesus standing there.  Don’t be afraid to welcome him into your boat, small though it may be.  Make room for the Lord. Oh, Lord, the sea is so great and my boat is so small.  Teach me to trust in you and not be afraid. DALLAS CRONK

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