The journey to Eden is not easy – March 6, 2026

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 95, 69:1-23, 31-38; PM Psalm 73
Gen. 43:1-15; 1 Cor. 7:1-9; Mark 4:35-41

After teaching throngs of people on the lakeshore, Jesus said to his friends, “Let us go across to the other side.” It was time for a change of scenery, and for rest. Do you ever feel that way? Maybe by this time of the week, you are worn out and are yearning for a break. Where do you go to recuperate, to catch your breath from the chaos and tension?

For many years, my mom’s brother, who we affectionately call Handsome Uncle Robert, and his wife, who goes by Beautiful Aunt Kay, would “go across to the other side” of the state, driving from Decatur to a tiny town called Josephine, Alabama. On two of four weekends in a month, they retreated to the back waters of the Mobile Bay. They went to unwind from the pressures of the world to a place of simplicity that had no cable television, no streetlights, and no traffic. They named the house Παράδεισος; if your Greek is as rusty as mine, the name reads “Paradeisos”…paradise. In the Septuagint, this was the word used for the Garden of Eden. My aunt and uncle’s house on the Alabama coast was a holy place, the Eden of the South.

To get to this place of wild gardens of azaleas and palms was no small feat. Even when packing was minimized, there were still 350 miles to their destination, notwithstanding congestion on the interstate and the delays that accompanied pit stops along the way. On some journeys south, the trip itself was draining or punishing, leading them to doubt if they were going to make it to their place of respite by dawn.

I think about that in-between time of their road trips to Παράδεισος as I sit with today’s gospel from Mark, reading of the boat ride with Jesus and his disciples. They set out toward the other side, hopeful for a rest. Instead of a simple outing, things got perilous. God’s Son, being God’s Son, stilled the sloshing sea and whistling wind. He reminded them to have faith…and more than that. He asked why they were not bold in their faith. With Jesus, there was no space for timidity.

In the second letter to Timothy, it is written, “for God did not give us a spirit of timidity (or cowardice), but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline” (1:7). In times of hardship, we are apt to have flagging spirits and get worn down. Perhaps you are looking at the landscape of the greater world, or of your own place in life, and seeing lots of waves and gusts tossing you about today. If so, I invite you to join me as we lean on Jesus as our Savior, as we seek respite for our weary souls. We cry out for his reassurance and help, and we strive to be bold in our faith. We look to God’s promise of faithfulness. And we are buoyed by staying connected to others along the way. We trust that our ultimate trajectory is the heavenly Eden, while living in this world for the time that we have.

With God’s help,

Katherine+

Reflection and Challenge

Sit with the concept of steadfast faith. Spend a few moments reflecting on where you feel challenged and inspired – and where / when you have felt deeply grounded in your faith. How is Jesus building up your faith today? How will you respond?