While living in the US, I heard about storm chasers – people who
purposefully tried to get close to tornadoes, or the eye of a
hurricane. Storms can have such immense power. No wonder
biblical writers saw God’s hand in the storm.

Mostly as people we try to stay clear of storms, but sometimes we
do get caught in them. We have all weathered some storms. We
have also had storm like experiences in our lives. And like the
disciples of old, it may seem like Jesus was asleep. But all the time
he is in the boat with them, with us. An ancient symbol of the
church is a boat. (We worship in the nave.) We get to remind each
other that Jesus is in the boat, and that he is like an anchor. I
think of baptism being anchor-like, something to claim in the
midst of storms of doubt and challenge. (We have two baptisms
at church today, and we can remind Carolina and James that they
are in the boat with Jesus, loved, ultimately secure.) And often
enough through storms faith is stretched, and can grow deeper,
and our love for others too, as we care for each other. Thankyou,
Jesus, for your presence in every storm. Amen.