Living in the Spirit
July 26, 2015

Scripture Reading:
John 6:1-21 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going. –John 6:16-21

Matthew, Mark, and John all three report the story known as Jesus, walking on the Water. Each tell it a little differently. Makes me think that something unexplainable occurred and the account reported by each writer reflect their own unique experience or the unique experiences of their sources. It is rare that everyone who sees an event describes it the same. We all come from different backgrounds and have differing perspectives. I am amazed at time at the variety of descriptions of my own family’s events told as my sister, brother, and I remember them.

It is a source of great joy being recognized as individuals and known specifically by God who has a whole world, perhaps worlds, of individuals to love completely just as they are. The miracle occurs when God is able to pull such a diverse lot together and make us one. These disciples in our story today were in the process of becoming one. The event that occurred on this trip across the lake is now classified as a miracle. The miracle isn’t in the supernatural event as much as it is in the changed lives as these disciples integrate into the powerful Body of Christ they are becoming.

We, today, have inherited this same call to be one. We do not do a very good job of it as we flail about insisting our own perceptions are the only way of being one. I firmly believe there are as many ways of solving a problem as there are people working together to address it. The challenge is melding all the ideas together to find the best solutions. This may mean sacrificing our own superegos allowing each of us to become the resources God created us to be.

Prayer: God expand our vision to see the rightness in each of the diverse ideas coming together as we work to serve you and help us to put the puzzle of good ideas together making a whole that is complete and successful in being your Body in the world today. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.