God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters again shall never become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." --Genesis 9:12-16, (New Revised Standard Version)
This week there is quite a contrast of symbols in the sky. I am writing on the Fourth of July, Independence Day in he USA. Tonight there will be fireworks. According to a 2010 article in Forbes, Americans spend $600 million on fireworks with two-thirds of that money being spent on backyard displays (Forbes, June 29, 2010). The fireworks remind us of the "Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air." They reassure us that our flag, the symbol of our nation's courage and resolve, is enduring through every time of trouble. Tonight many will gather in backyards, on beaches, and in public parks to see the sky illumined and catch another glimpse of our national symbol.
On Wednesday night, I traveled to a little village in southern New Hampshire to meet with members of a local church, where the congregation is praying that it will have a new settled pastor soon. This is a beautiful place with thick forests lining the winding roads. As I was preparing to seek a call as New Hampshire's Conference Minister, the Rev. John Thomas, our General Minister and President, counseled me about the closed-in feeling of New Hampshire's geography. It is a beautiful place, but one seldom sees the horizon here. I remembered John's wise words as I traveled to meet with that search committee at Mason on Wednesday. The reality is that we sometimes do not see a storm coming until it is right on top of us. Conversely, we often do not see the possibility of empowering hope and great joy until it is nearly too late. Unlike those who live in the Midwest, we do not see the clouds gathering and rolling toward us long before they actually arrive. That is true for the churches of New Hampshire, as well.
On Wednesday evening, there was a bone-drenching summer thunderstorm with bombastic thunder and flashes of lightning. Winds blew, tree limbs fell, and power failed in many towns across the state. But as I prepared to leave the search committee, I caught a brief glimpse of the sky after the storm. The light was diminished because evening was drawing to a close; night was descending. But there, in the sky, just above the steeple was an unmistakable symbol of hope and promise: A rainbow.
Today, I think today about the symbols that appear in our skies. The rainbow at Mason is a sign of reassurance for a little church that has experienced changes and faces challenges. We cannot see the horizon, but we still see a symbol of hope in our sky. It is a gift from God, who promises to be present and to love us no matter what--that's covenant! The United Church of Christ embodies that hope. Our congregations are not isolated and alone--we share a covenant that brings us together to love and serve God--no matter what.
Some years ago, as I was driving home from a hospital where a beloved member of our little congregation had just died, I passed through an intense thunderstorm. And just beyond that storm, a brilliant, beautiful rainbow appeared. It was not faint but bold against the fleeting storm clouds. I remember alluding to that symbol of hope at the funeral several days later. The grieving family had also seen that rainbow and received it as a symbol of hope on their journey home from the hospital.
So the contrast, fireworks and rainbows--one part of our annual civic pride and patriotism, reminding us of the wars we have fought and the enduring strength of our flag, and the other, a reassuring gift that appears quietly after the storm to remind us that God loves the earth and all its creatures. I may see some fireworks tonight, but it's the rainbow that I cherish most.
God of thunder and lightning, God of covenant making and covenant keeping: Thank you for every glimpse of your grace and every reminder of your love. Bless the little village churches as they seek to be faithful n calling new pastors to become agents of your peace and prophets of your truth. Open our eyes to see rainbows--especially in times when we cannot see all the way to your horizon of hope. Amen.
This week there is quite a contrast of symbols in the sky. I am writing on the Fourth of July, Independence Day in he USA. Tonight there will be fireworks. According to a 2010 article in Forbes, Americans spend $600 million on fireworks with two-thirds of that money being spent on backyard displays (Forbes, June 29, 2010). The fireworks remind us of the "Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air." They reassure us that our flag, the symbol of our nation's courage and resolve, is enduring through every time of trouble. Tonight many will gather in backyards, on beaches, and in public parks to see the sky illumined and catch another glimpse of our national symbol.
On Wednesday night, I traveled to a little village in southern New Hampshire to meet with members of a local church, where the congregation is praying that it will have a new settled pastor soon. This is a beautiful place with thick forests lining the winding roads. As I was preparing to seek a call as New Hampshire's Conference Minister, the Rev. John Thomas, our General Minister and President, counseled me about the closed-in feeling of New Hampshire's geography. It is a beautiful place, but one seldom sees the horizon here. I remembered John's wise words as I traveled to meet with that search committee at Mason on Wednesday. The reality is that we sometimes do not see a storm coming until it is right on top of us. Conversely, we often do not see the possibility of empowering hope and great joy until it is nearly too late. Unlike those who live in the Midwest, we do not see the clouds gathering and rolling toward us long before they actually arrive. That is true for the churches of New Hampshire, as well.
Today, I think today about the symbols that appear in our skies. The rainbow at Mason is a sign of reassurance for a little church that has experienced changes and faces challenges. We cannot see the horizon, but we still see a symbol of hope in our sky. It is a gift from God, who promises to be present and to love us no matter what--that's covenant! The United Church of Christ embodies that hope. Our congregations are not isolated and alone--we share a covenant that brings us together to love and serve God--no matter what.
Some years ago, as I was driving home from a hospital where a beloved member of our little congregation had just died, I passed through an intense thunderstorm. And just beyond that storm, a brilliant, beautiful rainbow appeared. It was not faint but bold against the fleeting storm clouds. I remember alluding to that symbol of hope at the funeral several days later. The grieving family had also seen that rainbow and received it as a symbol of hope on their journey home from the hospital.
So the contrast, fireworks and rainbows--one part of our annual civic pride and patriotism, reminding us of the wars we have fought and the enduring strength of our flag, and the other, a reassuring gift that appears quietly after the storm to remind us that God loves the earth and all its creatures. I may see some fireworks tonight, but it's the rainbow that I cherish most.
God of thunder and lightning, God of covenant making and covenant keeping: Thank you for every glimpse of your grace and every reminder of your love. Bless the little village churches as they seek to be faithful n calling new pastors to become agents of your peace and prophets of your truth. Open our eyes to see rainbows--especially in times when we cannot see all the way to your horizon of hope. Amen.
After summer school is complete, I don't often get the opportunity to read your blog. Today, I wanted to spend a little time at school and I thought I would read up on your blogspot. God works in mysterious ways and thank goodness I chose today to read up.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your message today. I needed to read that so much. I, too, cherish those rainbows! Blessings to you!
Brenda Oesterly