Not Ordinary
My body began to fall, and his eyes were the last thing I see.
Him.
His eyes were the last thing I saw before I fell into a deep sea of abyss, my feet slowly sinking as the storms and waves came all around me.
We were in the middle of the storm. He decided to stay behind after the tiresome yet miraculous event. He said he wanted to spend some time to talk with his father. So, we decided to go on the boat, and all of us agreed to meet on the other side of town the next day.
The sea was black, but it was calm. Unknown of what was ahead of us, we all decided to climb onto the boat and get a head start. Most of us had plenty of experience on the seas, so if the possibility of strong winds and enormous waves suddenly surrounded us, or if a thunderstorm was ahead, we knew that it would be no problem for us.
But this was no ordinary storm. John woke me up after being the fourth watch of the night. The wind was howling at us and the rain stormed the boat as thunderous as they can. Lightning can be seen two or three miles from us. We were all wet and shouted at each other to row, get the sails ready, whatever happens, do not let go.
Thirty minutes of fighting against the storm, we saw a shadow among the seas. Shadows and entities are common for the sailors. We were told to simply ignore the presence, do not humiliate or make fun of it, but do not entertain them in any matter. There were instances when we hear the voices of the sirens calling out to us, but our fathers have taught us to simply put in some earplugs into our ears and continue our voyages. This one, a shadow, must be the same. Shadows will only appear for a minute or two, and some will even give the illusion of moving, either towards you or away from you, and only to disappear a moment later.
But this was no ordinary shadow. The shadow seemed to stay still. We ignored the shadow, just as we have always done, and only to see it still there after a few minutes of frantically saving the boat. The shadow moved closer until an outline can be formed. The people in the boat begin to panic, “Its a ghost!” Their faces have become pale and as white as a sheet. Their lips hang open as the fear enters through their bodies, and their legs begin to tremble. This ghost had not disappeared, and with no place to go, they were trembling for their lives.
But this was no ordinary ghost. The ghost has spoken out loud. And although ghosts can be rumored as speaking to sailors, it is normally in the form of a whisper, a passing of the wind. This ghost spoke clearly, speaking plainly and with no riddles, as they usually do, “Take heart! Don’t be afraid. It’s me.”
The voice was as clear as day, and we both knew that it was his voice.
Jesus. Rabbi.
I then stood with my back straight and replied to Rabbi’s voice with confidence, “If it is you, tell me to come to you out on the water.” The disciples’ color have rushed back, only to be filled with redness of anger. Anger at my decision and my arrogance. Anger at how rashly I said this without thinking through. “Peter!” They shouted. “You’re crazy! You’re going to drown!”
I looked at the man in the water. His feet seemed to stand on solid ground and his legs did not tremble, and despite the storm and the winds crashing and colliding all around us, he remained still. It is as if he is in the eye of the storm. “Come.” He said. His voice was clear, his eyes open and genuine. He looked at me as if he believed in me.
I took a deep breath. And stepped out of the boat. As I step into the waves, the drowning sea suddenly seemed to turn into a smooth solid floor that I can walk into. I can still feel the waves splashing on my ankles. I can still hear the thunderous sound of the waves and the loud crackling of the thunder. I look at him and his hand motions me to come to him. I take another step and take it all in.
I’m walking on water!
I look at him with joy splattered on my face. I hear another sound of thunder rolling, but I refused to look at it. I continued walking toward the voice, toward the man with genuine eyes filled with love. Just as I was about to take my next step, lightning suddenly flashed behind him. It was close. A little too close. The sound of the thunder hurt my ears, and all I could hear was a loud deafening ringing sound. I lose my focus on him, too distracted with the ringing sound of my ears. I turn around and barely see the boat. My feet begin to sink, under and under the deep abyss. When I realize what was happening, my weight began to drop, my body began to fall, and his eyes were the last thing I see.
I let myself go under, and try to hold what little oxygen I had before going under.
All I see is a deep sea of abyss. The thunder and the sound of the waves were muffled by the water surrounding all over me. I lift my arms and push myself up to get air, only to be tumbled down by another set of waves. My heart begins to beat fast. If I don’t get up soon, I will lose air and I might really drown. I tried to get up once. Twice. Still to no avail. Just as my lungs are about to explode, I saw a hand reaching down. instinctively, I took the hand, and I felt my body pushing itself back up.
Rabbi held me and made sure I was steady on my feet again. And slowly, we walked to the boat. The walk was only a few steps before going inside the boat. But it felt like an eternity as if time was slowing down for us. “Oh, dear,” Rabbi said sadly. “Why did you doubt?”
I answered him with silence. He stepped into the boat with me, and the moment his sandals touch the wet wooden floor, the winds stopped howling. The waves stopped crashing. The night was still and silent once again. And it felt like the storm was never there.
Jesus is here. We’re safe.
