(The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column, “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
Scripture: Mark 13:35 (NRSV) “Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know …”
“Keep awake!” There are numerous exhortations and urgings to stay awake in the pages of our scriptures. Be alert to what is going on around you. Be diligent in anticipating what the future might hold.
But I have grown into a new level of understanding of the word “awake.” My undergraduate degree is from a maritime college where we received training to become officers in the Merchant Marine. We had to become very well acquainted with the Coast Guard’s “nautical rules of the road” and the safe operation of large cargo vessels. One of the things that we were constantly reminded of was that “a ship is responsible for its wake.”
The wake of a ship, or a boat, is the waves that the vessel makes in the water by its passing. With a ship or boat in a narrow waterway, the effect of the wake can be quite destructive. That is why many areas are posted as “no wake zones” to keep the vessels at a slow speed and reduce the possibility of damage from the wake.
Essentially, ships are to be “a-wake,” sailing without a wake, constantly aware of the effect that its passing has on the world around it.
We are called to be “awake” in that same manner, being aware of the effect that our passage through life may have on the people we encounter and the planet on which we live. We are responsible for our wakes, for the turbulence our actions create, for both the good and bad. Living “awake” lives means that we are to be ever diligent regarding the effect our actions might have on other individuals, on our communities and on our planet.
Jesus calls us to “keep awake.” Keep awake, for you do not know … Keep awake, not only to what is happening right around you or what might happen ahead of you, but what you leave behind on the path you travel. Keep awake. It matters. Faith matters!
Prayer: Guide us to keep awake, O God, to what lies ahead of us, what lies around us, and what we leave behind. Amen.
About United Church of Bernardston
The United Church of Bernardston is a United church of Christ/United Methodist Church federation. We are located at 58 Church St. (Route 10) in Bernardston, just west of exit 28 from Route 91. Our worship services are Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. We are both an Open and Affirming Church (UCC classification) and a Reconciling Ministries Congregation (United Methodist classification). As our church mission statement says, in part, “We invite all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, missions, worship sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family as we seek to grow together in faith and love.” To contact us, call 413-648-9306. We are online at unitedchurchofbernardston.org. Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ucbernardston