Whew, School's Out!

The Apostles were on a boat with Jesus when a terrible storm began. Jesus was asleep, but they woke Him, crying, "Teacher! We're going to drown!" Jesus yelled at the storm: "Quiet! Be still!" Suddenly, everything was calm. Jesus said to His followers, "Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith in God?" They were amazed at Him.

Many kids are breathing a sigh of relief right now that the school year is almost over - and not just because they're excited about summer! If you've struggled with music lessons, math or multiple-choice tests all year, you're probably ready for a break, too.

Not understanding a subject in school, or how to choose from four multiple-choice test answers, or how to play the saxophone after a year of lessons is frustrating. You've tried, but you just don't get it yet.

If that's true for you, then you have something in common with the Apostles. In this week's Gospel (Mark 4:35-41), they've been hanging around with Jesus for quite a while, but they still don't get that He's the Son of God.

One weird thing about struggling is that, often, the subject or lesson finally "clicks" - and you feel like you just won a marathon! You can't believe you actually understood how to read sheet music or solve a math problem, but you did. 

It took a big, dramatic event for the Apostles to understand who Jesus was. They'd heard His teachings and seen miracles, but it was when He stopped a storm that it finally clicked for them: Jesus could command the weather. Jesus was the Son of God.

Whatever you're struggling with, it will be good to have a break this summer. Maybe, when you restart in September, you'll have a new understanding. You might change as dramatically as an Apostle!

(06/18/09)