Lesson 1 (2 Boats; 2 Storms)

The beginning of this story will seem very cliched, but keep reading, the lesson is worth it.

The story is told of 12 friends. They were amazing friends, they did nearly everything together. One day a man came to each of them and asked them to leave everything they and come and learn from him. Each accepted the call and followed him. They followed him for many months and one night got into a boat. These men, most of them, were accomplished seamen, they knew how to sail a boat. The man who brought them all together was asleep, it had apparently been a long day. In the middle of the night a squall came up. These hardened men fought against the storm until they had nothing left to give. They awoke their friend, the one who called all of them. They said “Master we are going to drown.” He then gets up and rebukes the storm and it ceases.

Now lets fast forward nearly 2000 years. A few more friends, a long way further West and probably a bit South as well. A group of friends, all called by God to be where they are. Brought far from their homes for the reason of instruction. Different boat, different group of friends, same God.

The night was late, the “fun” had worn off. We were tired of doing our chores. We were sitting in the boat after dark. A sound started, we weren't sure what to make of it, but soon we would. It was the storm. Not a figurative storm, a literal storm, a Caribbean Sea storm, not a Sea of Galilee storm. Somewhere around midnight, I was sitting watch in my position at the bow of the boat. The rain had stopped, but the wind hadn't. All of a sudden, the clouds split and I could see stars and the moon. I think I was the only one that was up and looking at it. All of a sudden the bible story came to my mind. There was only one change to it. Jesus wasn't there to rebuke the storm for us, but he was doing the same job. Jesus was holding the same position as he was in that boat long ago. Jesus was at the helm. He was keeping watch while all of us slept. It was as if he was saying, “I got this watch you guys, don't worry, you'll be safe.”

Did the waves eventually calm down, yes, it took time, but they did. Did we weather the storm without to much pain, yes. Did we learn the lesson, I hope we did. Far be it for me to tell anyone what lesson that they should have learned. We spent 3 months in Nicaragua and had plenty of lessons that we could have learned. This is just one thing that God spoke to me about. It just happened to be on a boat in a storm tossed sea, very similarly to that of what the disciples dealt with. For me it was just a affirmation of the lesson Jesus was hoping that his disciples would learn. “Where is your faith?” was the question, I hope that after this experience if Jesus wouldn't have to ask the same question, but its a good question to ponder for each and every one of us.

More lessons from Nicaragua to come...