A Word from Pastor Lisa: A Prayer for Weathering this Election Season

“Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along. Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning? ”He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?” Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

—Mark 4:35-41 (CEB)

Do not let this picture of clear blue skies and glassy water on Ogle Lake fool you. We had seen potential rain in the forecast, even had drops on our windshield driving to Brown County, but we started off on a hike with two dogs and a preschooler and left our rain gear in the car. Within moments of snapping this photo, our daughter shouted, “I feel rain drops!” Sure enough, in true 2020 fashion, the rains came. We stood under trees. We huddled around each other. Somehow, mercifully, we made it back to our vehicle before the skies truly opened up. We were wet but not drenched, and we had a story to tell.

One of my favorite Bible stories to preach is Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4. The disciples are in a boat with Jesus, riding out a terrible storm on the lake. It’s the kind of scary weather that blows up out of nowhere with violent winds, lightning, and waves crashing over the sides of the boat. Meanwhile Jesus is asleep at the stern. “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?” the disciples shout, rousing him from his slumber. “Silence! Be still!” Jesus orders the winds and the water. And they obey him.

“Why are you frightened?” Jesus questions the shocked disciples. “Don’t you have faith yet?”

Most people get caught up in the miraculous moment when Jesus calms the storm, where the winds and the sea obey him. What many of us miss is the fact that Jesus is in the boat with the disciples during the storm, and it doesn’t seem to shake him. He’s sound asleep through all the drama. When they wake him up, he responds right away, but he doesn’t seem to be bothered by what they describe as a terrible storm.

We find ourselves in lots of storms right now from our perspective – the pandemic, increased awareness of racial injustice, an economic crisis, and political division with the elections. What would it take to have faith to recognize Jesus in the boat with us?

That’s my prayer – that we would recognize Jesus right there in the boat with us.  As 2020 continues to toss us about, as the waves of fear and anxiety overwhelm us, we would trust that Jesus cares enough to hear our cries and respond. Here’s a prayer we might offer together:

Pass me not, O Gentle Savior. Hear my humble cry.

While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Do not fall asleep on the job, Jesus.

Remind us how you hear us,

how you can calm the storms in our lives.

If we must weather the storm, however,

stay beside us in the boat.

As we’re rocked by this pandemic,

we cast our cares upon you (1 Peter 5:7),

and we cast our ballots in hope.

Help us love our neighbors with the wrong political signs in their yards.

Give us strength to tear down walls and heal divisions among us.

May we teach our children to dream of our country as you hope it will be –

beloved community,

where all people dwell in peace and wholeness,

free from the dark clouds of poverty, injustice, discrimination, and violence.

No matter the outcome of this election,

may we throw each other life preservers,

and trust you are with us all in the boat

as Giver and Preserver of all life. Amen.