How Deep is Your Cushion?

Today's Gospel reading is from Mark: 4: 35-41.

In the reading, the disciples are in a boat being tossed about on the water in a "violent squall".  And where is Christ?  "Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion."  Asleep?  On a cushion?  In a fishing boat?

Fr. Urban's homily was all about the cushion.  He said he spent a lot of time reading and trying to figure out why Mark would make sure that the presence of the cushion was a detail in this Gospel.

His conclusion was that the cushion was God and the relationship that Jesus had with Him.  He was so confident in this relationship and the protection of being in so close a relationship with the Father, that he was able to sleep in the midst of the storm.

Can you sleep in the midst of the storms in your life?

How does one go about finding the trust that gives such peacefulness?

I think it starts with thanksgiving.  Once you begin to be grateful for ALL the things God does in your life; good, hard, painful, wonderful, normal, then you begin to see that He is over all things.

Thank Him for everything!  Did you wake up this morning?  (Obviously if you're reading this!)  Thank Him.  Did you eat?  Thank Him. Did you have a hot shower?  Did someone you love hug you?  Does your home have heat?  Do you have a shovel and a strong back; or someone young and capable of shoveling all this snow?? The list could go on and on.  Did your car start? Did you get where you were going without mishap?

All of those things are easy to be thankful for because they are good things.

 Now, try being thankful if you answered 'no' to any of them.

I have a friend who is the most grateful person I know.  Her husband has been out of work since June; she thanks God every day that he is able to help her at home while he looks for a job.

Her teenaged daughter spent a couple of days in the hospital recently with pneumonia.  She was grateful for good doctors, nurses and medicine.

 When the car repair bill was higher than expected she praised the Lord.

Does the stress of these situations get overwhelming sometimes? Sure it does, and then she has a good cry, thanks God for the tears of release and puts her smile back on!

Never miss a chance to be thankful.  It builds your trust in a God who loves you, in a Savior who died for you.  Take time to care for your cushion and you will sleep like Jesus!


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