The Shot Heard Round the World/Getting Out of the Boat

I went for a much-needed haircut this week. My hairstylist was joking that the highlights he had put in Sarah's hair a while back had contributed to her ability to conceive four children. I told him that the quad announcement was the "shot heard 'round the world," and that I had decided to quit my job to help. He paused with his comb midair and replied, " Sondra, sometimes you have to get out of the boat."

My sister, grandmother and I spent some time in Israel, walking where Jesus walked. The presence of God was everywhere. I remember standing on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, remembering what had happened there. Jesus had taken a little boy's lunch--five loaves and two fishes--and miraculously fed 5,000 hungry followers on that grassy hillside. Later, the disciples had gotten in a boat and headed across the water. Sometime in the night--probably near morning, the waves kicked up and were tossing the disciples around. Suddenly, they saw someone walking toward them on the water which frightened them more than the storm ever could. It was Jesus. He said, "Don't be afraid. It is I."

Peter said, "If it's really you, Lord, tell me to walk out to you on the water."

Jesus replied, "Come." In the middle of that terrifying storm, Peter got out of the boat.

Right now, we are making many decisions and changes. Life is not too comfortable. We don't know what will happen or where this journey will take us. However, there are some things we do know.

We know that all life is a miracle and ordained of God.

We know that Sarah and Tony made the right decision to keep their four babies that difficult day in the doctor's office.

We know that although this is a surprise to us, it is not a surprise to God.

We know that He will be with us all the way through, watching over us and making a way.

Yes, there is a "storm" right now. It's a big one. But Jesus is here. He's walking toward us on the water, holding out His hand. It's time to get out of the boat.


"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered."Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Matthew 14:13-32