“And other seed fell on good ground and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:1 – 20

“Several years ago, when I was in India…a friend came to visit and to give advice about certain precautions to be observed. Just before he left, a final caution was given about snakes. He advised that we should not walk around at night without a light, not go into an unlighted room at night. We should sleep with a flashlight under the pillow, so that if it were necessary to get up during the night, a circle of light could be thrown on the floor before stepping out of bed, lest we disturb the nocturnal rambling of some unsuspecting cobra. This is precisely what the weak do everywhere. Through bitter experience they have learned how to exercise extreme care, how to behave so as to reduce the threat of immediate danger from their environment. Fear thus becomes a form of life assurance, making possible the continuation of physical existence with a minimum of active violence.” (Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (pp. 40-41). Beacon Press. Kindle Edition.)

The story of Peter walking on the water is a great example of expressing ultimate faith. But this story has so many alternatives once he decided to act. First he could stay in the boat – or he could step out of the boat. Staying in the boat gave him other alternatives: watch Jesus continue to walk on the water; or stay in a boat that may sink any minute. But once Peter stepped out of the boat, other alternatives suddenly presented themselves: he could drown — or look at Jesus and keep walking. If he stayed in the boat would he be remembered as the “other doubting disciple”? If he jumped without asking Jesus, would he be another person Jesus raised from the dead?

It is true that we would rather stay inside in a secure environment rather than step out putting ourselves into the face of danger. Howard Thurman speaks of this reality for the oppressed in our society: “This is precisely what the weak do everywhere. Through bitter experience they have learned how to exercise extreme care, how to behave so as to reduce the threat of immediate danger from their environment. Fear thus becomes a form of life assurance…”

Peter tried to reduce his fear by stepping out – by looking into the face of fear and saying: “I will not stop….” But eventually he lost his nerve. As we all know, there is no “Unsinkable” ship in life that will protect us from every possibility, every outcome, every possible situation in this world that looks to sink us. Ultimately, we will all reach a point where we either decide to leave the protection of the boat or face the possibility that we will be thrown overboard. One is our choice, one is left to fate.

If I take every opportunity that comes to me to leave the protection and safety of my “faith boat” and put my trust in G-d, then whether I walk or sink, I will trust on my “life assuring” ability to keep my eyes on Jesus – who promises to be with us to the end of the age.

Pastor Dave