Storms and Shipwrecks - 21 September 2025

Everyone has storms in their lives at some time or other.  It seems part of being human.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” Perhaps you feel like you’re in the middle of a storm right now.At first reading, Acts 27 looks like simply a factual account of getting Paul from A to B, and what happened along the way.  But if you dig a little deeper, you can find some clues as to what enabled Paul to survive through all the storms in his life – and there were plenty.In Paul’s own words, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, …from bandits, …from my own countrymen, …from Gentiles; in danger in the city, …in the country, …at sea, and from false brothers.  I have laboured and toiled and often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked…”                                  What was it that enabled Paul to keep bouncing back, ready for more, and willing to endure anything for the sake of the gospel?   Lesser men would have given up long before, keeping a low profile for their own safety.There are some hidden treasures in chapter 27 that show how Paul weathered this particular storm, and how they can help us in our storms.  Strangely, they all start with P, and no, prayer isn’t one of them, although it could have been.But perhaps the last word needs to go to Peter, in another watery story, where Peter learns the hard way how to keep his head above water, and how to stop the waves from overwhelming him (Luke 14:27-31).When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you (Isaiah 43:2).Colette Williams