Around the Galilee - Field Trips

CALMING THE SEAS
We took a boat ride from one end of the Sea of Galilee to the other. We stopped in the middle and read about Christ calming the storm (Mark 4:37-41) Although the Sea has looked fairly calm since we got here, it lies in a canyon between two mountains and the winds can get so great that they easily reach seven feet or more in height. For a small fisher boat it would be a frightening experience. We learned about the tactics of a small fishing boat in such a situation. If they hit the waves from the side they will be flipped, or it this timing wasn’t right it could snap in two. They absolutely have to hit the wave straight on (You can get your own object lesson out of that one). I thought about the times in my life where the waves have tossed me and I felt without direction. It appeared that the Lord was “sleeping” and I doubted. Christ’s rebuke to his apostles “why are ye so fearful?” is a call to us all. Don’t fear. The Master DOES care when we “perish” and has power to calm the storm.

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND
John 6:5-14 Here is the tradition site where Christ fed the five thousand (which technically would have been many more because that number only included the men and not the women and children who were also present). The greatest thing about this miracle is not the fact that all were fed with 5 loaves and 2 fishes but the fact that there was more left over. As the apostles brought to Christ the lad’s small lunch, they said, “but what are they among so many?” I think there are times in our lives where we feel like what we have to give is so little in comparison to what is needed of us. We feel inadequate or incapable of the task at hand. But as this young boy brought forth all that he had, as meager as it was, Christ multiplied it and in the end they had 12 baskets left over. As much as a sacrifice as it may have been for that boy to share his lunch as President Hinckley said, “It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you give” That day, he gave all he had and he got back more in return.

ST. PETER'S FISH

On a more entertaining note – we went to a restaurant where Peter, Andrew, James and John would have been fishermen. There, they served what they call Peter’s fish: a fried fish with the head, eyes, everything right on your plate! I had pizza.