PSWR Disciples,
May the peace of God be with you.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the mighty waters, yet your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. – Psalm 77: 18-20 NRSVUE
As many across the nation are enduring an almost unbearable rise in temperatures these past few months, we can’t help but think about the heat, the changing climate, and the world around us. Some of us can’t wait until the summer is over. Can you believe only three weeks remain? Maybe you are like me and are wondering where the summer went. So many people I encounter during these times are living with whirlwind schedules. If you live on the West Coast, you might have some experience with earthquakes, trembling, and shaking. We're also hearing more and more about it happening around the world. Sudden, unpredictable actions and changes in the environment can arise, which are (for the most part) beyond our control.
The psalmist in our selected reading cleverly continues the psalm by describing thunder as a crash in the whirlwind. Like in the environment, some occurrences in our lives are completely unexpected, sudden, and come with no time restrictions. We can look at a calendar and prepare well for the seasons. But… the unpredictable and changes are always possible. Yet, in verse 19, what a gift it is to find, recall, and remember the miraculous when standing before what seems improbable; what incredible courage the people of God must have had to expect a way through the sea and a path through mighty waters. While there were no footsteps to follow. They had other signs. They also had committed and faithful leadership to follow. Please pray for your pastors, chaplains, elders, church, and community leaders who are finding themselves facing very challenging times and waters to cross. They are not targets for our anger, fears, and pain. We count on those faithful for leadership, encouragement, care, and reminders of the triumphs from our past as well as the promises for our future (even when it all seems improbable).
There is a classic proverb that says, “Nature, time, and patience are the three great physicians.” Over all these healers and teachers, “God has been our help in ages past and will be our hope for years to come.” (NIB, 1996) Let us continue defiant in hope, trusting our ways and paths forward through the improbable can/will be visible soon enough. Breathe. Love life. Stay cool! Enjoy ice cream or a shaved ice where possible.
Pray Continually. Speak Out on behalf of the Voiceless. Do the difficult work of the common good. Be gentle to yourself and to all people.
Blessings,
Richie