Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and
go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after Jesus
had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the
boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against
them. And early in the morning Jesus came walking toward them on the sea. But
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It
is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart,
it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me
to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water,
and came toward Jesus. But when Peter noticed the strong wind, he became
frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little
faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in
the boat worshiped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
***
I don’t know how many times he, my father, took me out to
the cul-de-sac, at the edge of the driveway, buttoning up my helmet, so tight
as kid, that it either pinched my skin in it’s snap or chocked my nodding down,
but it seemed his last bit of safety, in my learning to ride a bike.
Sometimes, as I was crashing over, I wondered if he, like a
strong wind on water, had given me an extra push of speed just seconds before,
because in those moments, before I turned around and saw my father standing
there - arms crossed and grinning, there would be this feeling of perfection,
where after peddling hard and fast, the scraping of my training wheels would
silence into the balance of rubber tires and I could even coast with the wind
in my tiny ponytail stuffed below a white sticker-ed helmet.
But those moments were fleeting, I suppose I suspected him
always to be there, always to be pushing the seat of my bicycle, always to be
running alongside behind me. But that isn’t what riding a bicycle is all about.
They say once you learn, you forever know, and we relate that to technique, but
I think it’s about trusting, about trusting the one who takes you to the
cul-de-sac, or says, “Come,” out on the water, and then with that trust,
eventually finding you can do it yourself and perhaps teach another.
That you walk up to them, skinned calves, and scrapped
hands, or water thrashing, sinking and yelling, “Save me!” and you immediately
reach out your hand and right them in the balance and then reassuring and
encouraging, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” It’s about trust. It’s
about wanting to share with one another the way that wind feels in the freedom
of riding you bike, or walking on the water.
On Wednesday night, at the Vacation Bible School Campfire, I
saw this so beautifully and it had that same feel of parents and grandparents
and extended family - teaching, loving, enjoying. Bob and Shannon buckled up
our helmets by grilling and preparing a great meal, to which we sat around at
summery decorated tables, kids and adults together learning about what the kids
did that day, from swimming across a pool, to riding their bikes, to playing
baseball.
Then out in yard, in a circle of camp chairs, we listened to
Mark Ferns tell about treasures, complete with old coins for the widow’s mite,
and real gold that we got to touch, hold in our hands and pass around, learning
that we too were treasurers. It was like the instructions to push off and
peddle hard but that our parent would be there.
Then we went downstairs and like a parent running at a good
pace, Sharon Defrees was hunched over drilling and mixing concrete, and kids
stood nicely in line to get a fresh batch, and then decorate a stepping stone.
This was after Ginger Rembold’s craft of having the kids each make metal washer
necklace that somehow shined like stained glass. People helped the kids and
caught up, spouses and other congregants came after work, and then we all went
outside for games Kyra organized and she and her kids helped set up.
Hopscotch helped us take turns and encourage one another in
the sun streaked later afternoon light. Then potato races were super fun as
adults and kids laughed while hopping and three-legged racing, which is still
fun even if it is a game each of us adults played as a kid. My favorite was
when all the guys potato sac raced and Jason McClaughry lovingly teased Alex
with little pushes to off balance him as they hopped together toward the finish
line when Jason bear hugged Alex both of them falling down wrapped in their
bags. It was like when a kid can ride themselves and you can show them how much
they have improved by teasing them to wobble a little, because they can trust
their own strength and balance.
Then Zach Allen and I led silly camp songs, which included
laughter and running around a totally letting go of all seriousness, even for
the most stayed among us. It was when the parent can lead the kid over curbs
and harder corners because the trust is implicitly there because the fun has
taken over.
Then Bob McKim brought grill he welded from the inside of a
washing machine and we roasted marshmallows learning that Ginger Rembold makes
them perfectly and loves to share and Melissa and Annie know how to assembly
line chocolate and gram-cracker. And all were enjoying after a big big day!
Then as the kids were getting antsy on the play structure
and the parents enjoying talking Mr. Zach Allen saw an opportunity and called
the little ones over for a tag type game where Mr. Allen was called Potato Chip
in a pirate voice and we had to cross his ship. I say we, because by the time
the game ended the parents too were sprinting across the playground field
trying not to get caught by barnacles of other players. We were walking on
water, we were riding together, and I believe from the pictures and messages
shared upon return home, those in the boat of Vacation Bible
School worshiped Jesus,
saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
