What happens when we step out in faith but start to sink? In his final episode of “Rev’d Up for Sunday”, John Kennedy joins Peter Walsh and Elizabeth Garnsey to explore Jesus walking on water, Peter’s risky leap of faith, and what this story reveals about fear, failure, spiritual growth, and the surprising gentleness of Jesus. Along the way, the clergy reflect on the making of a disciple and the journey that continues even when it’s time to say goodbye. Questions for Further Discussion Themes & Application Water can symbolize chaos, danger, and the unknown, while the boat has traditionally been an image of the Church. What might this story teach us about the purpose of Christian community when the world around us feels turbulent or uncertain?Peter emphasizes the courage it takes for Peter to step out of the boat, while Elizabeth wonders whether he ever needed to leave it because Jesus was already coming toward him. What can these two interpretations teach us about the difference between taking a faithful risk and trusting God to meet us where we already are?John suggests that Peter begins to sink when fear and self-consciousness redirect his attention away from Jesus. How can fear, anxiety, or excessive self-consciousness prevent us from becoming the people God is calling us to be? Personal Reflection Questions Peter’s impulsiveness can lead him into trouble, but that same energy also enables him to take courageous steps that the other disciples do not. What quality in yourself have you sometimes regarded as a weakness that might also contain a gift?The conversation contrasts Jesus’ gentleness with the harsh internal voice that tells us, “You can’t do that,” “You’re weak,” or “You’re bad.” When you fail or make a mistake, which voice are you more likely to hear? How might you learn to recognize the gentler voice of Christ?Peter’s spiritual development happens through repeated moments of courage, misunderstanding, failure, forgiveness, and growth. Looking back on your own life, where can you recognize ways you have changed spiritually that you could not see while the change was happening? Broader Spiritual Considerations The clergy suggest that failure is not an interruption of Peter’s discipleship but actually part of how he becomes a disciple. How might the Church change if Christians treated failure as part of spiritual formation rather than something to hide or feel ashamed of?Peter introduces Jung’s idea of the shadow, suggesting that qualities we suppress or “domesticate” may contain powerful energies that need to be integrated rather than eliminated. How might Christian spirituality help us bring our whole selves before God rather than dividing ourselves into acceptable and unacceptable parts?John reflects on St. Mark’s and the podcast as communities that helped form him, often in ways he only recognized afterward. What role do communities play in shaping our faith, identity, and vocation? Can a place remain spiritually “home” even when we are called to leave it? References & Resources Books Thomas Keating, Crisis of Faith, Crisis of Love Thinkers Carl Jung (the shadow and integration of the psyche)Sigmund Freud (id, ego, and superego)Alan Watts (self-consciousness and the centipede analogy) Music QUOTE: Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack, a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in.” from AnthemRed Hot Chili Peppers, 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (Josh Klinghoffer joined the Chili Peppers in 2009 and was inducted with the band in 2012, becoming, at the time, the youngest-ever Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee.) Film, Television, & Popular Culture The Odyssey (2026)Looney Tunes (Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner)Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org
