Lord of the Waters,

   you have set us adrift in a trackless ocean,

   in a leaky boat with no oars or rudder.

“Rudderless” nicely describes our situation,

   but matters are worse.

Even if we had a rudder,

   we would not know which direction to go.

We are not even sure if there are any directions –

   or if there are any directions,

 we so distrust our wants

   that we do not know which way we really want to go.

In short, we feel lost and, so feeling,

   think it is probably our fault.

Yet you refuse to let us drown in our self-pity and blame.

Instead you drown us in your good kingdom,

   the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord,

   making us part of that great ark, your church.

The winds of your love blow that ark out to sea,

   away from the shores we think might provide safety,

   so that we might take on board the drowning.

How wonderful it is that the more that are taken on board,

   the less your ark is crowded and the safer we are.

Thank you for making us steady sailors

   who have no reason to fear the unknown,

   having learned you would have us to be at sea.

Amen.

________________

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.