The Boat

“Christ on the sea of Galilee” by Simon de Vos (1603–1676)

Attribution: Simon de Vos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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We enter the boat together as

a family, a friend, a team

with a destination in sight.

Yet, you slept while a storm

brewed in my heart and mind.

I looked around at the empty sea

alone in my turmoil and fear.

Jesus, Jesus, I am scared.

Rescue me.

You awake and calm the storm

around me.

But there is still a storm

inside me.

You look at me and ask:

Will you show me your hurt?

Will you let me embrace you?

Will you accept my healing grace?

I sit down in the boat

and realize that I had asked 

for my body to be saved

when I needed to ask you to 

rescue my soul.

Lord, you are my Savior.

Here is my hurting heart in need of

Your healing love. 

About this poem:

“One day he [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea and they obey him?””

— Luke 8:22-25

There are some seasons in life when I feel like I am “in the boat” that is quickly filling up with water. Tears come at the drop of a hat… sadness that is new and fresh, and deep and old. The storm around me makes me feel alone, but our faith tells me that Jesus is there in the boat with me. Jesus is there in my desires for the future, in my childhood memories, in my grief, in my fear of abandonment, in my aching heart… Though it is difficult, even though I am afraid of being thrown into the water, I must draw closer to Jesus and His love. I must make the decision to call out to Him to rescue my soul, not only my earthly body.

He wants to see my hurt.

He wants to embrace me, tears and all. 

He wants to gift me with healing grace.

He desires to be with me. 

And friend, He desires to be with you too. He desires to be with us in our healing journey, wherever we are at. He desires to be with us on day one, day one hundred, and day one million. Each moment of the day, Jesus desires you. He desires you to give Him your bleeding, wounded, hurting heart so that He can love you, even in the boat. 

Lord, teach us to have faith in Your presence. Teach us to call out Your name always. You desire to bring us peace in the midst of the storm.

Prayer

O Mary, Help of Christians,
in our need we turn to you
with eyes of love, with empty hands
and longing hearts.
We look to you that we may see your Son,
our Lord.
We lift our hands that
we may have the Bread of Life.
We open wide our hearts
to receive the Prince of Peace.
Mother of the Church,
your sons and daughters thank you
for your trusting word that echoes
through the ages,
rising from an empty soul made full of grace,
prepared by God to welcome
the Word to the world
that the world itself might be reborn.
In you, the reign of God has dawned,
a reign of grace and peace, love and justice,
born from the depths of the Word made flesh.
The Church throughout the world joins you
in praising him
whose mercy is from age to age.
O Stella Maris, light of every ocean
and mistress of the deep,
guide [Adult Children of Divorce or Separation]
across all dark and stormy seas,
that they may reach the haven of peace and light
prepared in him who calmed the sea.
Keep all your children safe from harm
for the waves are high and we are far from home.
As we set forth upon the oceans of the world,
and cross the deserts of our time,
show us, O Mary, the fruit of your womb,
for without your Son we are lost.
Pray that we will never fail on life's journey,
that in heart and mind, in word and deed,
in days of turmoil and in days of calm,
we will always look to Christ and say,
"Who is this that even wind and sea obey him?"
Our Lady of Peace, in whom all storms grow still,
pray at the dawn of the new millennium
that the Church […]
will not cease to show forth
the glorious face of your Son,
full of grace and truth,
so that God will reign in the hearts
of [ACODs]
and they will find peace
in the world's true Saviour.
Plead for the Church […]
that she may have strength
to follow faithfully the way of Jesus Christ,
to tell courageously the truth of Jesus Christ,
to live joyfully the life of Jesus Christ.
O Help of Christians, protect us!
Bright Star of the Sea, guide us!
Our Lady of Peace, pray for us!

(The above prayer was slightly adapted from the prayer at the end of Pope John Paul II’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia In Oceania Of His Holiness Pope John Paul II To The Bishops Priests And Deacons Men And Women In The Consecrated Life And All The Lay Faithful On Jesus Christ And The Peoples Of Oceania: Walking His Way, Telling His Truth, Living His Life from November 22, 2001.)

About the author:

The author (publishing under her first name) is a daughter of Christ, a sister in the ACOD community, and an educator of young adults.

Reflection Questions for Small Groups or Individuals

1. Do you ever feel like Kara when she says, “I sit down in the boat and realize that I had asked for my body to be saved when I needed to ask you to rescue my soul[?]”

2. Which character in the boat do you resonate with?

3. How does this poem speak to you?