"Next time
we will laugh more, we will love more, we just won’t be so afraid.”
A quote from Queen Latifah from one of my favorite movies, Last
Holiday. I actually have this on the
wall in my bathroom and I read it each morning.
This quote speaks to me because I spend a lot of my time being afraid. Maybe it comes with being a mom: I’m afraid of earthquakes in Japan, I’m
afraid of car accidents on the Pike, I’m afraid Corie won’t get into
college. Maybe it comes from the
news: I’m afraid of tornadoes, I’m
afraid of the unemployment situation continuing to deteriorate, I’m afraid of
Republicans. Maybe it comes from being
in my 50’s: I’m afraid of cancer, I’m
afraid of twitter, I’m afraid that I am a failure.
Rich
preaches often that fear can paralyze.
Dwelling and obsessing only keeps you from living your life. Intellectually, I understand and appreciate
that. He is correct. But sometimes living in the desert or a
stormy season can make it difficult to overcome that fear. He also said that Lent is a time to embrace
the “desert” portion of our lives and turn back to God.
One of today’s
readings is Mark 4:35-41—the Jesus-calms-the-storm story. We all know it. Jesus and his pals are out on the sea, he is
below deck sleeping and a violent storm suddenly comes upon them and they are
afraid. Terrified. Paralyzed.
If I am reading this passage correctly, the disciples wake up Jesus not
to ask him to save them from the angry sea, but because they are pretty angry
with him that he isn’t sharing in their fear and they want to know what
gives? I do that a lot in my stormy
times as well. I don’t understand why my
husband doesn’t share in my fear. Or my best friend. Or my girls. I want them to feel the same way I do. I want them to walk down that dark path with
me. I also get angry with God because I want that control. Silly, isn’t it? 51 years on this earth and I still have the
gall to think I have some control over what happens in my life.
I like this
passage because I can relate to the disciples.
And even after witnessing Jesus’ power first hand, they still go on
during the stormy times to have little faith, much doubt and paralyzing
fear. But they come to believe. They believe that Jesus is indeed God’s
son. They hold on. For me, that is all I can do during the
violent storms: hold on tightly. And get up each day, with Jesus’ help, laugh
more, love more and not be so afraid.
(Lori Welch)
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