April 19th, 2016
A couple of Sundays ago, I saw an image in a home video that has replayed itself in my mind many times since. Even now, I can still clearly remember it. A little boy, a couple of years younger than our lil S, was wearing an orange life vest. He was laying against his mom. She was also wearing an orange vest. Her arms were firmly grasped around him. They were laying low in a small boat crammed together with others. Ocean waves were all around them.
We were in a German church, listening to a man share his story as we watched his video clips. He was explaining the images we saw on a large screen at the front of the sanctuary. The room was full of people whose ages spanned the decades; their nationalities representing several countries. Our church had joined this congregation for a worship service and a meal cooked for 150 people. It was quite the experience.
The service started with our worship team leading the singing in English. The songs were projected on the wall with the German translation below. Then, the German pastor gave the sermon. Thankfully, our pastor translated for us through the ear pieces we shared. We listened to the story of Mary and Joseph fleeing with the baby Jesus to Egypt. They left in time to escape the massacre of all male children two years old and under ordered by King Herod. Jesus’ parents fled the violence in their home country to seek refuge in another. The pastor pointed out that they were refugees. This was a new thought for me. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover but have never reflected on this time period in the life of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
After the sermon and a time of prayer, the man was invited to the front. He too was a refugee. The woman and the boy with the orange life vest? Refugees. They had escaped together, in a boat, with other family members. The man talked of the significance of the songs we sang. One of the songs was Oceans (Where Feet May Fail). He shared how the words of this song connected to his story. Here are the lyrics…
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
Oh, Jesus, you’re my God!
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
As I listened and took in the images, I was reminded of our shared humanity.
Lord, have mercy on them…have mercy on us.
