Calm in the Storm

If you have lived in Florida for any length of time, you probably have a storm story. Your storm story is your first experience of preparing and perhaps even riding out a hurricane. My first experience of a hurricane occurred when I was in elementary school. I have no idea the name of the storm or exactly how old I was. What I remember about the storm was that my parents brought our outdoor furniture into the living room. We had a tiny house so the outdoor chairs in the living room meant there was very little walking space and I remember my older brothers and me playing on the chairs like they were some kind of new jungle gym in our house. I remember lots of wind and rain but other than that, it all simply felt like a big adventure. I didn’t know enough to be anxious or worried about the storm’s fury.

Since then, I’ve experienced the more menacing side of such storms along with all the anxiety and worry that accompanies such storms. Fortunately, I’ve never ridden out a storm that brought deep fear into my heart, but I have many friends who have lived through such experiences. And, several years ago, when one of the storms that we experienced here in Florida was supposed to come straight onto land in our area, I remember those feelings as I watched the weather channel non-stop, monitoring the storm. And as night fell, I remember praying, again and again, the words from Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; her leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” Every time I prayed those words, I felt a sense of peace and calm begin to settle over me, pushing away the fear, the worry, the anxiety. I knew I was not alone.

This weekend in worship, we begin a new message series, “Finding Peace in the Storm.” While all of us Floridians have literal storm stories, we also all have other kinds of metaphorical storm stories. No one makes it through life without navigating storms. They are just part of what it means to live in the world as human beings. And fear, anxiety, worry, and uncertainty are natural and, sometimes, even very necessary and helpful responses to those storms. So, we should never be ashamed to admit our fear in the face of a storm.

However, one of the most frequent phrases we find throughout scripture is the phrase, “Do not be afraid.” We know that while fear is a normal, natural human response, one wired into our biology, we also know that God does not intend for fear to dominate and control our lives. Instead, God invites us to turn to God in faith and trust, to rest in God’s presence and care amid our fear. In place of fear, God has the power to grant us a sense of peace, comfort, and security, as Jesus said, “My peace I give to you…do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

How do we tap into that peace? How do we face the storms of life with faith, with hope, with trust, especially when those storms can rage over a long time? What tools does scripture give to us in coping with the storms we face? How do we find and cultivate the kind of peace that Jesus promises? Those are the questions we will be exploring over the next 4 weeks in worship.

This week we will begin by exploring what is perhaps the most, or at least one of the most, familiar and loved scriptures, Psalm 23. As you prepare for worship this Sunday, I encourage you to read over (or recite from memory if you can) this Psalm. Think about your own experience with this scripture. Do you remember when or where you first heard it? How did it speak to you then? How does it speak to you now? Also, consider the most recent storm you have navigated. Perhaps you are in a storm right now? Name the storm. Then ask yourself, “How do the words of this Psalm speak to me during my storm?”

Fear, anxiety, worry – these are not emotions about which to be ashamed. They are part of what makes us human. And God uses them to keep us safe from danger. God can also help us to accept and deal with those emotions in the presence of our storms so that they don’t control us and rob us of the life Jesus intends for us. So, I pray you will join us for worship this Sunday, either online or in-person as we seek to discover the peace that can be ours in the storm. Also, we will be celebrating Holy Communion so if you are worshipping from home, be sure to set the table for the sacrament of communion.

Called to Serve

This past weekend, I went to Washington D.C. with my mom. It was a lovely time of vacation and quality time for both of us. We picked Washington, D.C. because neither of us had ever gotten to be tourists there. I have gone to conferences in the city, but my mom had never visited at all! We wanted to see so many of the important national monuments, explore the beautiful city, and learn more about our country’s history.

While everything that we spent time doing was meaningful, there were parts that certainly stood out. The Lincoln Memorial is so much larger than I ever realized. The Vietnam memorial, with an honor flight reading the names nearby, was somber and poignant. Visiting the National Shrine and Basilica to Mary, where each tiny alcove held a different cultural representation of Mary and child, I was struck by how far Jesus’s Lordship reaches. All of the walking! (Capitol Hill is actually a hill… who knew!)

The most impactful part of our trip, however, was our visit to Arlington National Cemetery. This was our first stop on the trip on an impossibly warm day. Yet the rolling hills, the quiet, somber, and respectful tone of the entire experience was worth it. We visited John F. Kennedy’s grave and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While we walked through the cemetery, we witnessed a funeral procession in full regalia.

As I looked out on the rows and rows and rows of white tombstones, I thought about how much sacrifice and service was represented on all those acres. I then thought about Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, and others like it, all around the country, where others who have lived lives of sacrifice for our country are buried. It is humbling to think about. The many freedoms I enjoy as an American were a gift of someone else’s sacrifice (and their family’s).

President John F. Kennedy’s grave is at the top of a hill that overlooks a large portion of the cemetery. It is a smaller monument than other presidents who are memorialized in D.C., but still powerful. On the overlook, there is a marble wall with words from his famous speeches etched into them. When we stopped, my mom took this photo of me next to my favorite quote on the wall:

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

For me, John F. Kennedy transcends politics. For those of you who lived through his presidency, that may not be the case! But each president memorialized in Washington, D.C. offered service and care to our country, leading in a time of unique beauty and challenge. We can trace many gifts and challenges back to each of these leaders. I feel grateful for them and grateful that our country takes space and time to honor them at our capital. The physical reminders help us trace the best and the worst parts of all our histories.

This quote reminds me of the service represented in the monuments, museums, and headstones. It also reminded me of the work we will take up as we conclude our sermon series this Sunday. As we explore our Serve mission essential, we will talk about a brief story at the end of Luke 4. When Peter’s mother-in-law is healed, she immediately gets up and begins to serve. She doesn’t ask what Jesus will continue to do for her; she thinks about the gift Jesus has given her and then shares it. As a result, more people are healed.

These infamous words by J.F.K. remind us of our call to citizenship, but more importantly, should remind us of our call as Christians. These words can also help us reflect on our call to transformative discipleship. We should follow the example of Peter’s mother-in-law and look for ways to open our hearts and lives to others, serving them in the name of Christ. Just as so many leaders and veterans gave their lives for our country, we should offer up our lives as a living and holy sacrifice, to serve Jesus, whom we meet in the face of our neighbors and the least of these (Matthew 25).

Each season offers unique challenges and gifts, but our call to discipleship remains the same. I can’t wait to continue to explore this with you all this summer, and I’m so grateful to be a part of a church that takes extraordinary love seriously!