That “Yucky Color of Green”

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That Yucky Color of Green

I am sitting here trying to think of something even slightly profound to say as the sky outside turns dark. It is taking on tinges of that “yucky color of green” that usually indicate a bad storm and/or tornado is in the making. Of course, my perception may be colored by my weather radio’s announcement that we are under a tornado watch. I am immediately reminded of the bible story about terrified disciples being out in a boat on a very stormy sea in real danger of drowning….when Jesus starts walking towards them on top of the water and says, “I am here, don’t be afraid.”

Some of my life experiences have been difficult ones in which I felt terrified and alone until I sought my Higher Power’s guidance and comfort. All I have ever needed to have was willingness to ask for help and the faith to accept it and act on it. Granted, the help and God’s solution were not always what I had in mind, but retrospectively speaking, my Higher Power’s plan for me  eventually led me through those storms and on to better things.

Alcoholics Anonymous’ Big Book tells us that those who seek a path of recovery are  well acquainted with fear because it was a common theme in their existence, and, as such, contributed greatly to their destructive drinking. The writers of the book suggest that one of the contributing factors to an alcoholic’s fear is discovering that self-reliance by itself is not sufficient for solving all of life’s problems.

One of my favorite paragraphs in the Big Book makes “I am here, don’t be afraid” come to life for me every time I read it. Here is what it says (p.68): “…For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to  match calamity with serenity.”

Many of us are like the disciples in the boat—-we are tossed about on the stormy sea of our fearful existence and almost drowned because our failing self-reliance repeatedly puts us in harm’s way. You see, the disciples got tired of waiting on Jesus to finish talking to a crowd of people, and they left without him. That is how they ended up in the boat without Jesus in the first place. Consequently, they were left relying on themselves to steer and man the boat, and the storm they encountered was more than they could handle. Like the disciples, if we are able to escape the trap of self-reliance——to have faith, to be willing to seek God’s help, to accept God’s help, and to follow God’s directions—– then our sea of calamity will become a sea of serenity.

Well, just in the time it took to type this, that “yucky color of green” is gone. Imagine that! 🙂

Please comment. God bless and keep you.