Water, water, everywhere. Water under here and over
there!
Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy remembering my
baptism and giving thanks….
But 2 weeks of it in the form of rain is about
enough. If I wanted to live in such an environment
I'd move to the Bayou!
It would be one thing if it was a steady rain but
these storms, they are a bit much. Especially for my
sweet Chloe who has become an expert in the army
crawl. You see, anytime it begins to rain, she takes
her position…under the bed. Even if it is at 3 in
the morning and I’m sound asleep, on her belly she
goes and squirms and squeezes until only the tip of
her tail sticks out!
Even now as I sit typing this at By the Bean,
someone commented, “How about this weather?” Which
was quickly followed up with, “But we shouldn’t
complain. We could live in California where water is
scarce.”
As we lament the back-to back-to-back days without
the sun, we also pray for our brothers and sisters
near and far who are enduring a difficult drought.
We pray that water will find the dry lands where
seeds have been planted and fruit will spring forth.
May God pour out Her mercy upon those who’s lips are
parched and long to have their thirst quenched.
As for us, as we listen to the rain fall and watch
the water gather in puddles, as we groan at the
report more rain is on the way, may we take the time
to be renewed, refreshed, and cleansed by God’s
healing rain. May the opportunities to sit and
ponder the showers of the summer lead us to a better
understanding of God’s graces poured out upon our
lives. May we remember the words from scripture, as
a deer longs for living streams, as a weary traveler
longs for the waters of life, so our souls long for
God. May God pour out God’s Spirit upon all creation
so that justice might roll down like waters and
righteousness like a mighty stream.
Sure, while rain may dampen our plans, it is also a
good thing that leads to life.
It also slows us down. It reminds us of our
belovedness. It is an invitation to payer, not only
to give thanks and to pray for neighbors.
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But also rain gives us time and space to care
for ourselves. Rain is a time to tell stories and
sing songs, to reminisce and to play. What is your
favorite rainy day memory? What is something you
like to do during stormy days?!
Have a good weekend, everybody. Don’t forget your
umbrellas! I’m including a poem by Carl Sandburg.
You can find this poem among others in our library!
What is the name you called me?--
And why did you go so soon?
The crows lift their caws on the wind,
And the wind changed and was lonely.
The warblers cry their sleepy-songs
Across the valley gloaming,
Across the cattle-horns of early stars.
Feathers and people in the crotch of a treetop
Throw an evening waterfall of sleepy-songs.
What is the name you called me?--
And why did you go so soon?
~Evening Waterfall by Carl Sandburg
[Adam Quine, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church
in Lincoln] |
