The windsurfers at the beach are beautiful to watch. However, I am not tempted to join them. It looks too frightening. Seeing Jesus walking on the sea must have created a similar sense of attraction and fear. Peter, bold Peter, impetuous Peter, over-confident Peter reacted. Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” It ended badly, but it didn’t have to. Jesus implies in his rebuke to Peter things could have gone well. “Why did you doubt?” When we hear the call of Jesus — to forgive someone who hurt us, to open our hearts to the stranger, to change our lifestyle to better care for the planet, to be brave in speaking of faith to a seeker — the initial burst of effort all too often dissipates. We see how strong the wind is and doubt what we can do. Only by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus can we step out on the sea of hope.
