"Not Just Any Sea Story" - John 6:16-21 - July 30, 2000

If you follow sports at all or at the very least you’ve been listening to the news this past week, you know that Tiger Woods, at age 24, won the British Open Golf Tournament. He set a new course record by shooting 19 under par. He is the youngest player ever to win all four major championships, known as a grand slam. This young, emerging super star is in a league of his own. And it appears he will be the Jack Nicklaus of the new millennium. But, Tiger Woods, does not walk on water.

Recent polls indicate that George W. Bush, son of the former president, and governor of Texas, is leading the nation as the man who will be the next president of the United States. He has raised more money than anyone running for president before him. He may very likely be one of the next most powerful men in the free world. But, George W. Bush, does not walk on water.

Bill Gates, originator and owner of Microsoft Corporation, is the richest man in the world. He lives in a house with 32,000 square feet. He has done more for the advent of computers than anyone in history. But, Bill Gates, does not walk on water.

The law of physics in fact prevents anyone from walking on water. It is impossible. It defies all our natural laws. The closest anyone could come to walking on water is when they are skiing behind a speedboat at a speed of 40mph in their bare feet.

Today, however we have a documented report that one man was seen walking on water. He defied the law of physics. It was an event that had more than one witness. In fact, it was recorded by not less than three authors. Who was he? Jesus, son of God, the Messiah, the Christ.

This was not a death-defying act, like an Evil Kinevel, racing a motorcycle over the grand canyon. This had nothing to do with winning a sporting event, building a billion dollar empire, or posturing for electoral votes. What happened that evening, on the Sea of Galilee, had nothing to do with athletics, politics or economics. It wasn’t a media stunt nor was it an illusion, something like David Copperfield might perform.

Instead it was an expression of God’s love. It was the presence of God in the midst of fear and strife. It was peace, not chaos, support rather than alienation, comfort instead of pain, assurance for those lacking in confidence.

The disciples were in crisis and Jesus came. Just when they thought they were alone. Just when they had no hope and felt as if they were perishing, Jesus came. "Do not be afraid," Jesus said. God is near. God is in the boat.

There is no one among us who is not struggling with some difficult dilemma. Some are terrified of growing older, experiencing loss of health. Others find themselves in a conflict over relationships. Still others are worried about financial collapse or simply terrified by all the changes that are taking place. And we all wonder if anyone cares.

When a person is down on their luck it is easy to feel sorry for themselves. They may fall into a pit of self pity which can ultimately lead to despair. Those are the times you hear comments like, "Why me?" or "Doesn’t God care?"

In 1972 I was aboard the USS Saratoga, in the Gulf of Tonkin. It was hot, humid, and we often steamed through severe weather. I know what its like to be at sea in a typhoon with seas of over forty feet. I know the loneliness of being separated from your family by thousands of miles. The Vietnam War was at its peak and the Navy was heavily bombing targets in Southeast Asia. We worked long hours, sometimes several days without rest.

It seemed as though the war would never end. Unfortunately, our ship kept getting extensions and the chance of returning home seemed hopeless. I was feeling as though the world had forgotten me. I missed my family. My faith was waning. About the second month a new officer joined our department. He too was an Ensign, who also had a family at home. We talked a lot about our faith, our lives in the church and shared our personal journeys.

Looking back, I now realize that in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a war, when conditions seemed dim and hopeless, God came to me. Vince, my colleague, helped to restore my faith, and became a good friend during a difficult period of my life. Vince wouldn’t have been my pick. He was from Georgia, had a southern accent. He was a Southern Baptist, which couldn’t have been farther away from my more mainline denomination roots. We frequently argued over religion and while he had a deep passion for the Georgia Bulldogs, I had a passion for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Nevertheless, we became good friends.

Vince didn’t walk on water. He was, however a faithful friend. Together we returned from Vietnam, traveling across the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, over 10, 000 miles of water. Neither of us had to make the journey alone.

God comes to us through people. God is also revealed to us through sounds and voices. Words of affirmation, motivation or inspiration can come from a variety of sources. God also comes us through symbols, places and even things.

It is precisely during those times of strife and crisis when God comes. We may not recognize the presence of God since God comes in ways that are beyond logic. We may ignore God’s words of reassurance rather than accept the mysterious presence of God when we are too filled with fear to hear. And sometimes we reject the presence of God, wanting to be in control of our own lives rather than let God be God. Yet, in spite of our stubbornness, our selfish anxious concern, God comes and God walks to us on the water.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio