The Sea of Galilee

Beside the Sea of Galilee

I am looking out on the still waters of the Sea of Galilee. The sound of children playing in the hotel pool breaks the quiet of the approaching evening. They are enjoying the splashing, the fun of the water. I am contemplating the sea's calm. A boat crosses my vision.

The waters of the Sea of Galilee.

I think: Jesus sailed on these waters.

But then: These waters?

And I must agree with myself that they were not these waters. The waters of Jesus'  time have long since disappeared, drawn up by the thirsty summer sun, harvested to irrigate sagging crops or seduced down to a salty grave in the Dead Sea.

Does my lay-person's  understanding of the natural water cycle lessen my feeling, my appreciation of what I see before me?  For many this is but a lake, a basin of sweet, fresh water. It supports life in and around it. It is undeniably a great blessing to this area. The fishermen depend on it to provide their catch. The crops of the farmers would die without it. The tourist hotels would serve no purpose. For many others this is much more than just a fresh-water lake.

Sitting by its shores in the cool of the evening, it is easy to see the physical appeal of the place. It is also easy to feel the emotional appeal of the place. Won't we all remember these moments alone with the lake and the Lord?

A cartographer's outline of the Sea of Galilee lacks the emotion of the real thing.

Yes, and the Lord. For the Christian the presence of Jesus is still here. (Oh, I know you will tell me that he is with one wherever one is - even in Western Australia!)  The lake of his homeland heightens our perception of his presence. We pause, are silent, and this presence penetrates our souls and becomes part of us.

Am I drawn closer to the Lord by this experience. For me, I think not. Has the Lord drawn closer to me? I hope so.

It is easy to see why Jesus left his hometown of Nazareth and came down here - to Capernaum - to live. We were up there; hot, barren, hilly. Not the best place in the world to live. Then we came down here; cool, fertile, enjoyable. A place to enhance life. Like people in Queensland who move to the Gold Coast to live. Whereas most of them move there to retire, their life's work basically behind them, Jesus came here to recharge his battery to move out into the world, to get on with his life's calling.

We also will move on, some to continue retirement and others to pick up on their various vocations. As we discovered, each in her or his own unique way, Jesus'  presence remained here. 

His foot-prints are still on the water.