When I was in Nairobi over two years ago, I started reading If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg and still have yet to finish it. I had borrowed it from my host family’s library. I finally bought it when I came back home but I have yet to read it in its entirety. The title is based on today’s Scripture reading from Matthew.
Jesus is walking on the water, heading towards the disciples who are in the boat, when Peter requests “Bid me come to you.” Out of the boat he hops and after his initial steps, sinks when he suddenly gets caught up in his fear. Jesus reaches out and saves him, as he scolds him for not having enough faith.
The first reading from Kings has Elijah looking for God in the likely places only to discover God is in an unexpected place. We are both Peter and Elijah. At times, we can be bold and hop out of the boat; other times we cannot even get out of the boat because our faith is so compromised. Some days we think we know exactly what God has planned and then we get a curve ball. Why wasn’t God in the wind, fire, or earthquake? Who would have imagined that God would be a still, small voice? We look for signs and wonders and we receive them. Jesus will catch us as we falter. God will show up as promised. We may get out of the boat in order to receive the graces of walking on water. We may even be able to put aside our pre-conceived ideas of who or what God is long enough to hear that still, small voice. Either way, it is not God who is not there when needed. Most days, it is me who is distracted by my own request to realize God is there. I think it is time for me to pull that book out and start reading it again. This time I should finish it though.
Peace,
Suzanne
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