SEPTEMBER 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 9

Dear Friends

I hope Compass readers have had a good summer, although I realise that not everyone was able to get away on holiday.  We were fortunate this year to be able to enjoy a Baltic cruise.  First thoughts for this letter came to me on the homeward voyage. We had sailed mostly under sunny skies and on calm waters, but as we left our last port of call the Captain announced that gale force winds were forecast.  Some of us were woken in the early hours as the sea became rough. We needed our “sea legs” if we had to get out of bed in the night!  Some people felt seasick and maybe a few were a little bit anxious or afraid, even though we had confidence in our Captain and crew.

Imagine (if you have never experienced this) how it would feel to be in a much smaller craft being tossed about on a stormy sea.  The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke record a story of Jesus and his disciples in just such a situation.  Jesus was fast asleep in the boat.  The disciples, fearful for their lives, awoke Jesus who then spoke to the wind and the waves, and calmed the storm.  The disciples were amazed and asked, “Who is this man?”  Some believe that Jesus was a good man, a miracle worker, a teacher or a healer.  All these are true, but Jesus was and is so much more.  Christians believe that in Jesus we see the whole nature of God revealed.  In stilling the restless waves and the wind, Jesus demonstrated the power he had from God. 

While we were enjoying a peaceful, restful holiday, we heard of rioting in London and other British cities.  Meanwhile in the wider world many conflicts continue to rage.  As politicians and others try to understand the root causes, and how to tackle the problems, one thing we can all do is to pray, and to ask Jesus to bring peace and calm to these turbulent situations.

Meanwhile some people are travelling through stormy waters in their personal lives.  We don’t have the power to calm all these situations ourselves, but we can turn to God and learn to trust him to steer us through these times, much as passengers on a ship learn to trust their Captain to steer a safe and steady course through troubled waters.  We can also call on Jesus who is with us in the boat (that is our lives) and who can bring peace and calm into our hearts.   Christians have no guarantees that they will never enter stormy seas or be buffeted by the winds.  What we do know is that Jesus promises to be with us always and that he can give us peace and calm within.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington