Here’s the thing, though…to get to that other side requires change. And as we know, significant change is among the greatest of challenges to overcome.
While we are in the boat with Jesus, while Jesus is trying to get us to the other side, some severe storms of what may seem like apocalyptic proportions are bound to come.
Some of us may find the privilege that we have lived with for so long it feels like it is part of our DNA ripped away by the storm.
Some of us may find layers of guilt and shame about who we are or who we love pulled from us – guilt and shame that feels so familiar we imagine we will perish without it.
We may find some of the things we thought were most important about church blown away by the wind of the Spirit as we seek to collaborate with our partners at Grace Place and the Lakeview Lutheran parish to more faithfully love and serve this world that God so loves.
Though it may seem like we are perishing, let us not forget that Jesus is with us in the boat. Jesus is with us, embodying the peace that the world cannot give. We, who have gotten into the boat with Jesus, we are MADE to survive this storm and once the storm has passed and everything has changed, to thrive. To thrive for the sake of the world.
These are days when I feel like signs of God's abundance are all around. Just yesterday, as of this writing, I began my time serving as Administrator for Communications, Worship, and Community Life (the longest title ever, I know) here at Holy Trinity. This is, for me, a sign of God's abundance because I am getting to worship, serve, sing, play, coordinate, facilitate, and more, with a vibrant community that I've followed and loved from afar for years. You all (Y'all, where I come from), the community of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, are a sign of God's abundance for me.In this weekend's Gospel reading we'll hear the story of the loaves and fishes. When Jesus told the disciples to feed the gathered crowds and they realize that they have only five loaves and two fish, God's abundance was, I imagine, the furthest thing from their minds. But Jesus did a curious thing, he took, blessed and broke the loaves, and somehow, all who were gathered ate and were well-filled...there were even leftovers.There are times in our lives when what we are given seems anything but abundant. Sometimes the only thing that seems abundant is our brokenness. But what did Jesus do before he broke those loaves? He blessed them. Just as we are blessed by God even in our brokenness. And as we gather in our blessed brokenness, we are somehow re-membered as the body of Christ: broken, yet whole; one body, though many members. And then all are fed: "The Body of Christ, broken for you." "The Blood of Christ, shed for you." And miracle of miracles: there are leftovers (and sometimes aren't the leftovers the best of all?) ! God's abundance overflows in us so that we become like those twelve baskets full. We become a sign of God's abundance: food and drink, broken and poured out for the life of the world.What are some signs of God's abundance in your life?How have you experienced God's abundance in the midst of brokenness?How might your experience of God's abundance overflow beyond yourself?