Hurricane Maria cut through the middle of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. That day, to my husband’s dismay, I was intent on sleeping at 4 am while he was monitoring the storm’s progress on our battery-powered radio. Regardless, he urged me to wake up. I imagine the disciples may have felt similarly about waking Jesus when they were crossing the storm-filled lake of Galilee.
I know now that God’s creation has a way of bouncing back long before we are ready to do so ourselves. Trees quickly sprout new leaves and branches, as if to remind us that we can also grow again. When we weather the storms together, we too can sprout new hope. We too can build our strength again.
Now, when times are hard, I look to my loved ones and give thanks that they are in my life. God’s creation reminds me that the storm will pass. I find comfort in how God continues to breathe life into the world. Like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, I see the importance of weathering the storms of life together.
This message is excerpted from “Weathering the storm together” by Kristina Diaz in the January/February 2024 Gather magazine. Today is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.
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