Lauren Kay Charbonneau

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Funerals and memorial services are a time for remembering, celebrating. We tell stories, we thank God for the gift of love he gave when he gave Lauren.

One of the words used to describe Lauren was “hippie.” That word has a range of meanings, but one is being intimately close to the natural world. Finding joy and excitement on crab and scallop boats. She loved horses, ponies, horses and dogs. She helped run a landscaping business.

Jesus, who grew up into a person who loved spending time in nature, especially in gardens;  and he often went off alone to gardens to pray, probably because it was there that God had first spoke to humanity. This time alone with God in nature was an important part of his loving people.

No guarantee against the and unexpected.

When I think of the word hippie, I think of free spirited. She lived wife the way she wanted, not feeling restricted by covention.

So we grieve, this morning we grieve an unexpected death that leaves us with shock and unanswered questions.

When I think of the word hippie, I think of unconventional.

Like the disciples in the storm, we often expect life to give us relief and relaxation, but sometimes we get the opposite: we get a storm.

Water and a storm in the Bible was never just about water: it always symbolized disruption, chaos, pain and destruction. After an unexpected with death, we’re left with that.

This morning I think we can see ourselves in the story. This story is really about unexpected chaos and tragedy.

This morning I think we can see ourselves in the story.

Hard to choose scripture

This morning I think we can see ourselves in the story.

This story is really about unexpected chaos and tragedy.

It may appear God isn’t doing anything.

It may appear God isn’t doing anything.

Let’s not skip to the end of the story where Jesus shows up. There is chaos. There is terror. There is destruction. There is helplessness and hopelessness. There’s also anger, because in the story it was Jesus that sent then out on the boat. God was supposed to take care of us. Instead we hard to find the activity of God on the chaotic waves.

In life, things come at us that we cannot control. Some things come through the actions of other people, and some things in life are never explained. God seems to be silent when we long for a word.

Fear, anger, sorrow replace faith.

Whenever we’re stuck on the chaotic, destructive waves,

The men were deeply terrified. When fear comes, faith is removed. We live in a world with much to cause fear: the fear of terrorists, of illness, of losing our jobs, of being victimized by brutal criminals or white-collar fraud. These can immobilize us as it did Jesus' companions.

Jesus hears. Storms can turn us to Jesus.

We are to remember that although Jesus did not hear the howling storm, he heard his disciples' cries.

Right now, we are in the middle of the storm. Unexpected. Frightful. Destructive. Anger. Confusion.

Storms can turn us to Jesus.

We can’t undo our pain and loss. These things leave a lasting impact. But here’s the good news: we can and will experience joy. Here the good news:

John 16:20–22 NIV

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

The storm will end. You will hear Jesus loud and clear. There is damage, but there is also redemptive purpose. God takes these things and produces good. And God will restore our joy.

Thanks be to God.