Awestruck

The day was fair without a gust
when launching from the shore
and now the winds are such, we must
place in our skills, all of our trust:
brace now for what is in store.

We put in oars and strain to row.
We bail out water taken.
The waves heave and we’re rocking so.
The fearsome wind won’t cease to blow.
And to the core, we’re shaken.

Our master sleeping in the bow
wakes, stands up to this grave hour
His voice, such sway does it endow
he calms the storm; we know not how.
What man can have such power?

—DWP June 2021

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  (Mark 4:35-41)