Imminent Danger - Part Two

Despite the fact that everything around us is still calm and serene, this is Bryan's domain; so I figure I better listen to him. Within minutes of Bryan's command to run, lightning flashes across the sky followed by a low growl of thunder. A storm is rolling in.

The wind picked up on the sea, and the disciples contended with all their might against the fierce winds that assailed them and the water that filled up their boat. The fact that they feared for their lives indicates that the raging storm was no ordinary one. Despite their years of experience, they were losing their battle against the waves and the ship was in real danger of sinking.

Where did that thunder come from? I wonder, as I urge my legs to hop to and hurry up. My heart races, but it's hard to tell if it's from running, the altitude, or the fear of being hit by lightning. The wind picks up. The sky grows dark, and our outdoor commander begins issuing emergency bulletins from the front as we huff and puff our way out of the brush.

"In the event that you sense any static, drop to the ground immediately, "Bryan instructs. "And keep forty feet of distance between you and another person at all times."

Now, that's a problem. I had hoped to stay together so that all our combined noise would scare off the snakes. Snakes? Who cares about the snakes? They are the least of my worries at this point!

So, where was Jesus when his disciples were in peril? He was there...asleep in the back of the boat. How anyone could sleep through howling gale force winds is beyond me, but then, I'm not Jesus. Jesus had spent his entire day on board that ship. He had been teaching by the sea until the crowds got too large and pushed him toward the water. So, he got in a boat and taught all day from his nautical pulpit explaining the mysteries of His kingdom in parable. By nighttime he was exhausted; but even in his fatigue, Jesus wanted to teach his disciples a lesson about faith...faith the size of a mustard seed. So, he slept. The teacher, still teaching...slept through the storm.

We run the remainder of the trail with little resistance to Bryan's authority as his discernment has been magnificently confirmed by the lightning and thunder erupting all around us. As we reach the parking lot, we are able to see the horizon - the storm is angry and huge!

Safe in the car, we begin the drive home taking with us a fun adventure story to tell. While Bryan quotes statistics, it begins to sprinkle. He turns on his windshield wipers. "Did you know that last year four people were killed in Colorado from lightning strikes?" Bryan reports. "In fact, just last month an entire family was struck by lightning while hiking in...."

All of a sudden, the sky opens up and dumps a river of rain on the hood of Bryan's car. It pounds faster than his wipers can sweep it away, and Bryan can't see. Hydroplaning becomes a threat, so Bryan slows down. All around us the storm breaks out and I worry that we could be in a flash flood, but I can't see to tell.

The disciples fought the wind, the waves, and the floods as long as they physically could. Finally, when they had exhausted all their strength and ability, Mark 4:38 says, "They woke him." This strikes me as funny. Seems no one wanted to wake Jesus by himself so they called the others together to do it as a group instead. Given what they say to him as they rouse him to consciousness, they may have been annoyed with him. Scripture says, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Assumption is a dangerous thing. The disciples assumed that Jesus didn't care about them because he was asleep. Jesus' sleeping was offensive because they had a personal need for rescue that he wasn't meeting. Therefore, they concluded that he didn't care. That wasn't Jesus' heart at all! He did care. He did love them; and it was because he loved them, that he was sleeping in the back of the boat, but they didn't see it that way. The fearful disciples were antagonized by Jesus' serenity in the midst of "their" storm.

The disciples needed physical rescue, and their connection to Jesus was tethered to whether or not he would provide it. Jesus, on the other hand, wanted to expand their vision and give them eyes of faith. This required that they call on him in the midst of the storm, which they could have done early on. They just waited too long. They waited until they were about to die to wake the only person who could steer them safely through the storm.

And where was Jesus again? Asleep in the stern...the back of the ship where the rudder is - that small yet important part of the ship used to give it direction. From the stern, an experienced, skillful captain guides his vessel through unpredictable waters and the hidden dangers of the sea. Jesus was guiding their ship. Even while he slept he was still guiding them, and he was most interested that they learn that the antidote for fear is faith.

The phrase, "imminent danger" runs through my mind as Bryan carefully makes his way home through the storm. Ever since we left the house, we've been in one form of imminent danger or another. I was watchful for the snakes until the lightning became the more real and visual threat. Then I was concerned about the lightning, until an unexpected monsoon unleashed a river of water across the roadway. I was worried about the rain until we returned home and could watch the storm from the safety of the living room window.

Something else runs through my mind on the drive home as "imminent danger" floats in and out of my conscious thoughts. It's a background track to the noise in my soul. The words of John 14:27 softly hum beneath the anxiety of the afternoon's events. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

Yes, we have been in the midst of a storm this afternoon, but I haven't truly "felt" afraid and that revelation surprises me. "Why is that," I wonder. Instantly the picture of Bryan standing in front of the trail sign evaluating which way to go pops into my head. My leader was trustworthy. Bryan is experienced, knows more than I do, and he has my best interest and safety in mind when he makes his decisions. Most of all, Bryan understands which threat is more imminent than another so he knows how to get us through one crisis at a time.

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Screams and shrieks erupt through the corridors of the old barn as girls fly every which way trying to get to their rooms in the dark. When I reach my cabin, several girls are huddled together on one bed crying. Ignoring the hysterics of my roommates, I open the drapes to have a front row seat to God's feature presentation. The girls scream. Despite the chaos around me, I sit and enjoy His furious display. I sit by the window for a long time waiting for the next contraction bolt of lightning to slice through the darkness. When it does, the Lord and I draw pictures in the patterns.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace," my counselor begins to sing. One cabin after another joins in until the barn fills with the gentle melody. We sing until the storm passes and peace returns.

Jesus is trustworthy. He knows more than I do, can see what I cannot, and always acts in my best interest. Jesus knows which danger is more imminent, and he knows how to get me through one crisis at a time. My connection to Jesus is tethered to his love for me. His perfect love casts out my fear; so no matter how dark the skies may become, or how fierce life's winds my blow in my storms, when I turn my eyes on Jesus the worries of this life will grow wonderfully dim!

Copyright © Donna A. Tallman, 2009. Please contact author at delsie2002@yahoo.com for permission to reprint.