A story from the First Nations Version of the New Testament:
His followers were still in the canoe, far from land. The wind blew strong against them, and the waves pounded the canoe and began to toss it about.
Late into the night, just before the morning light, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) came near them, walking on the water! When his followers saw him, they cried out in terror, “It is a ghost-spirit!”
But he heard their cries and called out to them, “Do not fear, take heart. It is I.”
“Wisdomkeeper, is it you?” Stands on the Rock (Peter) shouted back to him. “If so, tell me now to come to you on the water.”
“Come!” he said to him without any hesitation.
With reckless abandon, Stands on the Rock (Peter) climbed over the side of the canoe and began to walk on the water toward him. The wind howled and the waves splashed against him as he made his way toward Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
But when he felt how strong the wind was, fear took hold of him. He began to sink and cried out, “Wisdomkeeper, save me!”
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) quickly reached out and took hold of him. “Man of small faith,” he said, “what made you hold back and doubt me?”
The wind stopped blowing and the waves grew still as they climbed into the canoe. All twelve of his message bearers gave honor to him, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of the Great Spirit.”
In times of fear, what makes us hold back and doubt? Let us follow with reckless abandon.
Scripture quotations are reproduced from First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament, copyright © 2021 by Rain Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press All rights reserved worldwide. ivpress.com
Wendy McFadden is publisher of Brethren Press and executive director of communications for the Church of the Brethren.