"Crazy Log Flume Adventure"

Mark 4:35-41The Message (MSG)

This is one of the most famous of the Jesus stories.  Jesus is on a boat with his disciples when a major storm develops.   The waves were pouring into the boat on all sides, so much so that the boat is in danger of sinking.  You have seen enough movies to imagine the scene. And just maybe a couple of you have actually been in such treacherous circumstances.  And, incredulously, Jesus is sleeping. Sleeping through the storm.  What is up with him? Is he crazy?  Or just an insanely heavy sleeper?

The disciples scream at him to awaken him and yell at him angrily about his passive stance on the whole storm business.  To which, in true Jesus fashion, he just simply tells the winds and the sea to calm down. And miraculously it does.  Jesus then scolds the disciples for having no faith.  I'm not sure how I feel about that part.   It's one thing to have faith, but when your boat is sinking.... well, someone to help bail out the water is awfully nice, too.

Have you ever wondered why log flume rides are so popular?  Or raging river rides?  Amusement parks are not usually worth their salt if they don't have at least one splashy, soaking wet ride.  There is something about the thrill of going fast and getting water dumped on us that we hate and love at the same time.  Some people avoid these rides, some people go on them but wear protective ponchos, but many of us just get on them praying we won't get soaked (and secretly hoping we will.

Our faith journeys, or walks to live in the way of Christ, are a bit like that, don't you think? We pray we will have an easy path to follow, that we won't have to get too immersed in the faith, that Jesus won't ask too much of us.  But, deep down, in our core, we are wishing to be soaked.., immersed so much in the love and peace of Christ that all we have to do will pale in comparison to being true to God's call in our life.  

What kind of Christian are you? The one who doesn't get on the ride at all, afraid of being even a little immersed?  The one who gets on but prays you don't get too immersed? The one who gets on, but keeps a safe distance by wearing protective gear?  The one who wants nothing more than to fall so into the love of Christ that you don't care how immersed you get?  

For me, I admit, it depends on the day, the week, the season.  I always sort of want the kind of faith these saints have I have admired and loved through the years. These beautiful souls who have taught me the way of Christ.  But I admit, I too often put on the poncho and just let the baptismal waters hit me a little bit here and there, hiding behind a protective barrier that prevents me from really getting soaked.

There's also something here about trust in Christ, isn't there?  We are always trying to find a drama or a crisis and when we find ourselves in one, we blame Jesus if we don't think he cares enough.  But all we need to do, according to this scripture, is ask.

Themes here about faith, commitment, trust, fear.  What are your thoughts?  Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.