At Lapaz Farm, the much-missed-and-SO-glad-she's-back, Theresa, asked if we would share our favorite miracle. So I thought about it. I tried to remember each miracle and consider which one I would choose as my "favorite." Honestly, I had never really thought about it before!
To get my brain rolling, I pulled out The Miracles of Jesus, and, flipping through its pages, I found the one I knew best. I remembered this Gospel story vividly from one Sunday Mass last summer. Father gave a wonderful homily describing how we often let worry cloud our life and our faith. It spoke to me so clearly - it just clicked. It was one of those moments when you just say - "I love my faith, I love my church - I am getting this."
I'll give you a little hint. This particular miracle reminds me of one of my favorite sayings - something I try to keep in mind:
"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength."
And here's the miracle:
Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-41)
On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, whom even wind and sea obey?"
I love this miracle not just because I remember it so clearly, but because it spoke to me so clearly. I have a tendency to be something of a "worry-wart." I can get easily overwhelmed by things that are within my power as well as things which are not. If you have any experience with anxiety you know how debilitating it can be. It clouds your whole day - it truly saps your energy and even the simplest things can seem too much to deal with. When you worry - excessively, I mean - you lose perspective, energy and peace of mind.
In this miracle I see a glimpse of how Jesus works in my life, when I let Him. I can get all wrapped up in the "storms" around me - both big and small, real or imagined - when what I need to do is remember He is always in the boat with me. However hard my boat may be rocking, He is there. When I remember to ask for His help, my heart slows, my mind clears, and I - like the wind and the water - feel peace. I feel empowered.
Peace and power - two things I can always use more of in my life!
So there's my entry in the miracle meme! What would be yours? I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tag someone, but if you're reading this and you'd like to participate, please do! (If you don't have a blog, you are welcome to leave a comment below.)
And thank you Theresa, for giving me something beautiful to think about!
