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By Rev. Jean Mackay Vinson
Guest Columnist

Fall is upon us! We have gorgeous colors, crisper air and new scents to enjoy. Autumn is also the time of year of change. New school years begin. We may be starting new jobs, or new relationships. To be certain, there will be challenges in our personal lives. Stack those up alongside the state of our world with increased violence, accelerating technological breakthroughs, and an uncertain future for our own nation. How are we called to handle the metaphorical storms beneath and around us so that we can carry out our part of God’s mission in our lives, our community, our nation, and our world? I am reminded of the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14. 

What does Peter’s example reveal when fear threatens to sink him? More personally, what do you and I do when we are afraid? When anxiety, stress, and fear threaten to confuse our reason, drown our cool-headedness and engulf our faith? How might our faith sink fear? Humans are wired with an instinctual warning system for danger; fight, flight, and/or freeze. 

The disciples fight against the storm. The disciples are no strangers to this, they’ve braved many storms, many rocky boat excursions while fishing. At this point in the story, though, these young men are increasingly tired with the strain at the oars against a headwind — rowing after a loaves and fishes dinner until the wee hours of the next morning: the fourth watch of the night. So, not only do they fight the elements physically and mentally, but they fight their own beliefs. And, here comes Jesus… walking on the sea to calm them down. Yet their fear prevents them from recognizing Jesus. Their fear-flooded logic convinces them that the waters of chaos are coming after them in the form of an evil spirit. So, when this gravity-defying, human spectre walks toward them on top of the waters, it is absolutely understandable why the disciples are so terrified. As the disciples panicked, Jesus called out to them in familiar words: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Jesus is letting the disciples know that God speaks to them across the waves, the stormy waters. No need to fight, have faith.

A second tendency we humans turn to, when faced with stress, is flight. Similarly, the disciples’ thoughts and emotions take flight. As their leader, Peter investigates the figure approaching the boat. He says, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” And, Jesus says, “Come.” At that moment of faith, Peter does not succumb to his instinct to take flight. Peter thinks, if this is really my Lord, then he will enable me, His servant, to move on the face of the waters. To Peter and the disciples, Jesus’ presence on the water becomes their reality and their Truth. Jesus is here with us. No need to deny the danger of the storm. No need to divert our attention. No need to swallow our emotions. Jesus is here. 

Peter also embodies the third instinctual response to fear within humanity, and that is Freeze. Some of us freeze up, get stuck… we sink. In verse 29, Peter freezes. His fear starts literally sinking him. He walks for a short time toward Jesus. But when he notices the strong wind, he becomes frightened again and begins to sink. Instead of hollering for the disciples to throw out a rope, Peter calls on the name of the Lord. And, immediately, Jesus takes hold of Peter.

Jesus says gently to Peter… “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus says this not to shame Peter, but to get a frightened Peter to focus on what’s most important in the midst of the storm. 

Certainly, Jesus did not sink with Peter ten feet under the water. Did they swim or walk on the water? 

When faith once again sinks Peter’s fear, he walks side by side — on top of the water — with his Lord. How do we apply this to our own lives? How do we react when we are afraid?

If we frame our individual challenges within the wider context of the Christian community, we are all in the same boat. Why? Because our individual works — our daily efforts — contribute to God’s greater mission.

The storms will always rage around us, but Jesus teaches us that in faith we walk with Christ on the waters of life, as we contribute to God’s mission.

As Christians, we have a powerful fourth response to stress and anxiety. We have a deepening, abiding faith that ultimately sinks fear.

REVEREND JEAN VINSON is the Rector at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Franklin.