Full

In our last church there was a precious retired minister.   He had a life full of ministry opportunities, no doubt led hundreds of people to the Lord,  and taken countless trips to minister in Africa.   After a stroke, he spent his days unable to speak.  His movements were limited and as a result, he had to teach himself to write with his left hand.  Despite the difficulties, he continued to minister. 

Each week, his wife would send an email with a carefully written passage of scripture penned in his less dominant left hand.  I was one of many recipients.  Countless times when I opened those emails I felt as if God Himself had just spoken directly to me. 

One specific entry is attached to the bulletin board in my office.  This one had a particularly profound effect on me.  “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over onto the other side.  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship.  And there were also with him other little ships.  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish?’ And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm”  Mark 4:35-39 (KJV).

Two things strike me about this passage.  First, we have all felt the storms of life beating the sides of our resolve, but what about when the stinging pellets of hail and rain begin to infiltrate our safety?  The verse does not say the storm crept over the side of the ship or trickled inside; it says the ship was now FULL.  This creates a picture of a violent storm that was merciless to all in its path.  The contrast comes at the end of the passage with the second underlined portion, “. . . there was a great calm.” 

Disheartened,  the disciples cried out to the Master and He answered.  Simple, isn’t it?  At times, I am not desperate enough for Jesus to rescue me.  My boat may only have a few inches of water in it, but I am confident I can still row to shore and save myself.  Sometimes, what would be more beneficial is a boat full of water to get me to release whatever instrument I am utilizing to get back to shore.  Items I frequently reach for include oars of self-pity or a pair of pride-laden planks that I continually plunge into the water.  Am I desperate? Oh yes, I am desperate to get to shore, but not desperate enough to release the disaster in my hand.  The calm of wind and waves come immediately when I cease my own struggle.

The secondary point that cannot be dismissed is the way this former pastor continued to prove himself faithful to his call.  The plans for his life certainly did not include a stroke.  As he and his steadfast wife envisioned their future ministry, disability was never part of the timeline. I am so grateful for those who continually model how to obediently serve.   The Lord does not remove our calling when life becomes unsteady. He always provides a way of fulfillment whether our boat is full of water or not.