On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” (Mark 4: 35-41)

As we send our love and prayers to the people of Florida this week, I have been thinking a lot about storms, those in the outer world and those that beset our inner world as well - and what it might mean for them to be calmed.  

This week's meditation comes to us from a 1983 New Church Life article by Rev. Robert Cole who asks us to consider the state of our faith in (and love to the Lord) as we encounter the spiritual struggles that are so often a part of our life in this world, that through them we might be led from our earthly trials to a "heavenly port."

Love and Peace to each of you,

Ethan

Our mind is like a sea, calm and peaceful in happy times, but easily aroused in times of trouble. We travel on this sea in a ship fashioned from principles of life which support us. Such faith seems clear and strong when things go well, but, at times, doubts assail, the storms arise and we fear for our very souls.

At such times, the Lord appears absent or even asleep. Yet if we have faith in Him, we will seek Him. Our faith will lead us to Him, when we pray for His aid.

But faith by itself is not enough; there has to be love.  This kind of love is a desire to be joined with the things which flow from the Lord into our minds. Jesus said to the woman who had sinned, and who made His feet wet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet, which she also anointed with oil, "Your sins are forgiven you; your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:38, 48, 50).

We can see that it was faith in the Lord's power that healed the woman of her spiritual diseases, that is, removed her sins, for the woman not only had faith in the Divine power of the Lord, but she also loved Him. Faith brings the presence of the Lord and love conjoins us with Him.

[The Lord Jesus loves us and desires to lead us to heaven], but cannot make us good - except by the truths of His Word and by our willingness to live according to them. Easier said than done!  Our faith in Him will be tested. Evil spirits attack in a ferocious manner that may be compared to that of wild beasts or an angry sea; they attack and attempt to surround and engulf one who is trying to be a better person with God's help.

Picture in nature, for example, when the ocean lashes forth, breaking in with waves over demolished barriers upon countries and towns. But finally, it is as if the Lord's voice can be heard speaking to the wind and the sea, saying, "Peace, be still." So also He speaks to the forces of hell when temptations have run their course. And by a like Divine power the Lord fights at this day against hell in every one of us who is being made a better person. For hell attacks such individuals with diabolical fury, and unless the Lord resisted and tamed that fury, we would perish eternally.

But He does calm the raging storms of our lives, and sets us once more on a straight course upon a glassy sea - leading us, if we cooperate, ever more toward a heavenly port.