At last week’s practice for the Arthur Button Accordion Group, we boldly strove to learn a new song. This time it was Jim Payne’s Newfoundland folksong, “Wave Over Wave”. Now, when we try to pick up a new piece, we start with listening and viewing. In this particular case we were fortunate to be able to watch some performances on the computer. Firstly, we listened to a version of the song performed by, “Great Big Sea”. It was great! Secondly, we watched and listened to a version by Jim Payne and Fergus O’Byrne. Lastly, we had a recording of a Newfoundlander Poss Slaney, playing the song simply on the button accordion. Now it was our turn. The melody was dancing in our heads. Moreover, we have written notation with lyrics in front of every musician.  So, off we went with the first line, “Me name’s Abel Rogers, a shareman am I”. We stopped. So what exactly is a shareman anyway?  Well, according to my Newfoundland dictionary, it’s a person who shares in the profit of a fishing venture. In other words, he’s a member of the working crew of a schooner. On we went from here until we reached the chorus. “Wave over wave, sea over bow, I’m as happy a man as the sea will allow. There’s no other life for a sailor like me, but to sail the salt sea b’ys, sail the sea. There’s no other life but to sail the salt sea.” By now we were starting to play with real gusto! Soon, we all realized that this song was indeed “a keeper”, as we could not keep our feet still.
Now wouldn’t you like it if your whole life had that kind of enthusiasm in it? Well it can, as the sailor in the song proves. So what is holding us back?  Well, there is a healing story in the Bible that may shed light on the problem. In John 5:1-9 we find Jesus confronting a man who was said to be ill for 38 years. He just was lying there on his mat near the healing pool of water at Bethsaida. Jesus goes up to him and asks him if he wants to be made well. Instead of answering directly, the man makes excuses for his being there begging for so many years. He has no one to help him. The crowd is too pushy. Jesus puts up with none of this. Does he really want to be made well? If so, pick up your mat and walk.  The lame man did precisely as told, and he walked away healed.
Most people think that this is just a miracle story, but I beg to differ. This story actually indicates the position of many of us. We are afraid of challenges and change. The lame man would have a major lifestyle change, if he actually did as Jesus asks. Begging was no longer possible. He would have to find work. He would have to move to a new environment and meet new people. All of this would be very frightening to this man, after doing the same old routine for 38 years. Still, the man jumps up at Jesus’ challenge and his life is changed. I hope that you noticed that it wasn’t just Jesus waving his hand over the man and all was well. The lame man had to cooperate, and he had to have faith. He was a shareman in the process of making a new life for himself.
Perhaps it was the bold act of tackling the unknown danger of the sea that attracts us to the song, “Wave Over Wave”. Obviously, this sailor loved his adventurous life. It may not seem so readily apparent, but I’m sure that the lame man would not look back after Jesus sent him out on a new life too. That is the promise for all of us who wish to be a shareman with Jesus. No wonder so many of the disciples were fishermen.