Ordinary Time

Pause

Everyone goes through storms. They are a natural occurrence in life. But sometimes, it seems that as soon as you’re through one storm, another one is just over the horizon.

What gets us through these storms? For seafarers out on the ocean, it’s navigation equipment. GPS, compass, and satellite. What equipment do we use to navigate through life’s storms?

Whatever problems you may be dealing with this week, trust in the tools that God has given us to navigate this unpredictable life: the love of family and friends, the wisdom of Scripture, and the guiding force of the Holy Spirit.

Listen

He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”

Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Mark 4:39-41

Think

Silence! Peace! Be still!

It is in the midst of a dead silence and a stark calm that the seasick disciples learn of the awesome power of God and the divine power of Jesus. What can you learn from a few powerful moments of silence in your day?

Time and time again, we see our heroes from the Bible emerge from moments of silence and reflection to go and do the impossible. Remember Moses going out into the desert? Remember Jesus praying alone in the garden of Gethsemane?

Ironically, it seems we hear the voice of God louder and more clearly in the quiet moments of our day. I challenge you today to put aside some time solely for yourself. Engulf yourself in silence. Listen to the words of God and the meditations of your heart.

Perhaps, like the disciples in our reading today, you may hear a silent voice inside you echo, “‘Silence! Be still!’ ‘Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?’”

Will Bryant

Pray

Almighty God, the world is a busy place. Full of distractions that keep me from following your will. Help me to lower the volume of my life so that I might hear the volume of your voice more clearly. Amen.

Go

“Oh what good is it to live with nothing left to give?
Forget but not forgive, not loving all you see? [...]
You belong with me,
Not swallowed in the sea.”

Coldplay, 2005, “Swallowed in the Sea”