The Roman legions crossed the English Channel, and landed their small ships at the foot of the cliffs of Dover. The Britons looked down and saw them. They laughed, thinking these Romans could pose no real threat to them. But, the Roman commander ordered his soldiers to burn their boats. There would be no turning back. They were there to stay. They had left their boats for good.

When I read that, it brought to mind that scene early in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is walking along the beach. Little waves from the Sea of Galilee slip up on the sand.

Jesus looks down the beach as far as he can, and he sees - there in the distance - some fishermen. It is Simon and his brother Andrew. As he draws closer to them, he hears the loud swearing of Simon, and as he walks past where they are, he say…