The Storms of Life      Watching the news and seeing the wildfires that engulfed Summerland last week hit home for me. I have many friends there and families that I know well. When I reached out, one of them said to me: “Fr, we lost o house…    Thank-you- Jesus I surrender everything to you, take care of everything. We have our family. And our pets! All will be well. Eventually! In heaven!!”         I was amazed by the faith that was expressed. When I think of all our families are going through, it brings tears to my eyes. Life is already difficult enough and now the wildfires. We all go through storms in life: when the night is long, when the sea of life gets really rough, when we do not see where the road ahead is leading, when we hit rock bottom, when we feel like we are drowning, when we feel overwhelmed, when we get sick, when our bodies start to fail us…. ​ What is your own storm today? How are you coping? Recently, I was listening to a song titled: ‘Keep Your Eyes on the Lord,’ by Zim Gospel. I find the lyrics so helpful for a time like this, for anyone facing any storm right now. Permit me to share the lyrics: Keep your eyes on the Lord  When the road becomes longer than your strength, keep your eyes on  the Lord.  When answers do not come at the time you expect it, do not let the  delay become louder than His promise.  The storm may know your name, but it does not know how your story ends.          I once looked at the problem and forgot my God. I counted every wave  and forgot who taught the sea its boundaries.  I watched others moving forward while my own road looked like it had  forgotten where it was going.          My heart kept asking, when will I arrive, but Faith whispered you are  still moving even when it feels slow.  There were days I reached the end of my strength, but grace kept  carrying me when my hands could no longer hold.          I thought I was walking alone, but every step I survived was proof that  God was walking with me.  Do not look at how long the road is, look at the One   who already knows the ending.  Do not look at the doors that have closed, the right one will open   when your season arrives.          Keep your eyes on the Lord even when the road is hard. Do not look at  the wind, look at God. The One who called you will carry you through.  Your promise is still alive. When the world says it’s over, heaven will say  not this time. Keep your eyes on the Lord.       Though the wind was against them, Peter was able to walk on water when he kept his eyes on the Lord. What was supposed to swallow him did not because he kept his gaze upon Jesus. He started to sink when he began to calculate the risk, when in his eyes, the storm became larger than Jesus.                    There’s no storm bigger than Jesus. Let’s keep holding on to his hand and keep our gaze on Him. May we hear Him say to us again and again: “Take heart, it is I, be not afraid.” As we gather for Mass this weekend, at Holy Communion, Jesus truly wants to step into the boat of our lives. He cares for you and all that is going on in your life today. Hear Him say to you: “Take Heart, it is I, be not afraid.” A simple prayer from the heart: “Lord, save me; Lord help me; Lord help my daughter; Lord, I need You now; Lord, help my son…. ”God is, God cares, God can! I’m thinking of you. Let’s keep each other and our nation in prayer. Your brother, Fr. Obi