The back of the boat

This
is
me
in
the
back
of
the
boat.






I went with 12 kids from my church
and 100 or so from the area to a Young Life camp called Malibu Club this summer. It is in Vancouver, B.C and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. One of the student's families has a boat. A pretty big boat. Like '60 and beds for 10 kinda boat. And we got to take that to Malibu. The trip there was great-good weather, calm seas, no puke buckets, great food...But the way back was a bit different.

A slight mechanical problem made our trip through the Strait of Georgia quite pukey. I don't think anyone actually lost it, but we pretty much all had buckets in front of us. Normally puking is not a particularly social event. Puking is why bathroom doors have locks. And yet that seasickness was one of the most unifying things we did. It was almost the only time that we are all on the same section of the boat at the same time. Know why? Because the back is less pukey. The waves are calmer as you get farther away from the spot where the boat is actually smacking the waves. So this picture is from just after the waves calmed down and we put the buckets away and we rested, 'cuz almost puking is really draining.

There are lots of other things that we all do (and almost do) that are draining. Certain tasks at work, some friendships, ways that we let ourselves and others down, as well as lots of other examples all serve to wretch a little of our lives from us. But there is good news in it. 'Cuz according to Mark 4, the back of the boat is where we meet Jesus.

At the end of another long day of trying to do his Father's will on Jesus' part and trying to keep up with him on the part of the disciples, Jesus requested a ride to a less crowded side of the lake. Along the way the weather got crazy and the disciples got scared and began looking for Jesus. And what they saw was frustrating/unbelievable to them, but is full of grace and hope to me. Jesus, in the back of the boat, sleeping, on a pillow. Jesus, worn out also. Jesus, figuring out the same place that we did for some comfort. They found him there, woke him up, and had their screaming prayers answered immediately. That he calmed the storm is cool and helpful and miraculous. That our Lord was back where the waves are calmer asleep on a pillow is cooler still. Even more endearing and humbling is that he understands the need to find a calm place, calmer at least, and close our eyes sometimes. And that he invites us, by example, to stop worrying about the winds and the waves and instead come back and lay down and share his pillow-that is the Gospel.