Walking on Water can be dangerous. At any age. Whether the waves be choppy or the waters calm

Walking on Water can be dangerous.

I met a woman named Jane on Tuesday.  She has been part of a group who meet at a Community House to practice ‘life writing’.  The personal stories of life, in poetry, reflections, anecdotes.  Stories only the individual can write.

I was invited to be the GUEST speaker at the launch of this year’s publication.  I put on my fancy jacket and my new shoes from Christmas.  In the months prior, I was given past editions of the book, and then the early drafts of the current publication.  Clearly, the organisers were needing me to make reference to the parts of the publication in my launch speech.

Remember when we all used to write. Drawing patterns with crayons. Graduating to HB pencils. Achieving a Pen Licence.

And then all the school stories “What I did on my holiday”, “Our excursion to the Zoo”, “The Scout or Guide camp.  We all graduated to writing stories, book reviews, essays.  That saw us sitting in exam rooms: row by row: writing against the clock… putting what we had learned into words: answering questions to show our understanding…  And 300, 4000, 5000 word essays… research…

We used those skill in working life and family life.  We use those skills in letter writing.  We used this skills in sending cards, aerograms…  Hand to the paper. Deciphering the hand.  The sound of pen on paper.  Now, it’s dexterous thumbs and keyboards click-clacking. I’m not as worried about the clacking clack as I once used to be.  Writing using a key board has become a second nature thing to me in daily life: but still, there are times to write.  A few weeks ago, and feeling a little out of sorts, I needed to write freehand for a few weeks.  Sit down and write.  May be the heart needed a bit of hand writing time to reconnect head, to heart, to hand?

On writing… Julia Cameron, (famous for her guide to creativity The Artists Way), writes in  The Right to Write…

“We should write because it is human nature to write. Writing claims our world. It makes it directly and specifically our own. We should write because humans are spiritual beings and writing is a powerful form of prayer and meditation, connecting us both to our own insights and to a higher and deeper level of inner guidance.”

I recall a minister saying to me 15 years ago, when they moved congregations: and in that congregation there was not a worshipping community, that they had lost her prayer life.  My friend realised that writing a sermon was, for them, a prayer life.

Julia Cameron continues; “We should write because writing brings clarity and passion to the act of living. Writing is sensual, experiential, grounding. We should write because writing is good for the soul. We should write because writing yields us a body of work, a felt path through the world we live in…. We should write, above all, because we are writers, whether we call ourselves that or not.” 

When did you last write?

Walking on Water, is like writing. You do it and see what happens. You do it and you have to practice. You do it not knowing exactly what will happen.  Writing is like Walking on Water: it’s dangerous.

I met Jane at this book launch.  After the ceremonies, she came and introduced herself to me.  She thanked me for what I had prepared and delivered: and then she told me that she’d been part of the group for a number of years: but this year she had had to publish under a nom-de-plume.  She had written a piece, and ‘World War Three’ had erupted in her family because of it.  She published under the assume name of Jane.  Plain Jane.

Her poem described how she was ageing.  She described what it was like when the family you love no longer include her, or value her contribution…

Her children lover her she knows

And are so protective of her

They have not noticed

They have changed her into a non-person.

Walking on Water is dangerous.  I believe, in Jane’s writing, she was walking in water.

Jesus calls each one of us out and onto the water. The language in today’s story is tender. Loving… words, tender. Listen:… Reading the Bible with a HIGHLIGHTER PEN: The Gospel • Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray.  When evening came, he was there alone, the boat, by now far out on the lake, was baffling a heavy sea. In the watch of the night Jesus went toward them, saying ‘Courage!  It is I!  Do not be afraid.’’If it is really you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. but as soon as Peter felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Save me!’ he cried.
Jesus put out his hand and held him.

Jesus calls each one of us out and onto the water. The language in today’s story is tender. Loving… words, tender. Listen: Reading the BIBLE with BOLD print ONLY

up the hills by himself to pray. alone Jesus went toward them tell me to come to you felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink put out his hand held

Giradian Theologian, Paul Nuechterlein describes this story as an acted out parable.  He see’s this story as definitive of the God Jesus was pointing to.  In the prime-time for malevolent Spirit, in the 4th watch of the night, Jesus says ‘Here I am’: not a ghost: but the One who stands with humanity, the One who meets, us even in the storm.

Paul says, and I quote, “Jesus [He] is here to reveal the true God as one who has nothing to do with violence, with punishment, with harming human beings. Jesus brings the divine presence as one to calm human fears, not stoke them. Jesus brings a divine presence that is actively working for peace in the face of human violence.”

When Jane Jones, walked out onto the water to write what she was experiencing and in fear of losing the very sense of her self; she had no idea that WWIII was about to erupt in her family because of her words.

What is it to not be seen? Not to be seen by family? When you are on the uncharted waters of Ageing…

Yet, she is the same person.

She widowers why she is felt out of conversations

that were lively not so long ago?

Does no-one value her wisdom

Accumulated over so many years.

Of even who she is?

Walking on Water can be dangerous. At any age. Whether the waves be choppy or the waters calm, Walking on Water can be dangerous.

But Jesus calls to us: all.  In this community, to step out in faith; to step out with confidence of this story… knowing Jesus will put out his hands to HOLD us.  

So I leave you with imagining questions: things to ponder as you assess whether you step out on the water…

Where does this call to walk on water – resonate in you?

What makes us reluctant to dare step out?

What might Jesus be calling us to step out on the water for?

And remember this… I quoted it earlier… ‘Jesus brings the divine presence as one to calm human fears, not stoke them. Jesus brings a divine presence that is actively working for peace in the face of human violence.’  

In our western climate: 

In our current National political debates.  In our state politics: Jesus brings the divine presence as one to calm human fears, not stoke them.  In every conversation with  friends:

We are gifted and entrusted with the Good News of Jesus Christ: ands we are reminded to be salt: light: and yeast to breathe air into compacted frustrations.

So, what are you being called to: and will you step out on the waters to walk towards Jesus?