If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones
in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know
the work of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:3-5
Dear Servants,
It’s not often I can quote from the book of Ecclesiastes, so when I came across this passage I just had to write a blog.
Like most of you, I’m trapped in my house watching the weather and wondering what the next 24 hours will bring. I take from the writer of Ecclesiastes (King Solomon) that we aren’t going to make sense of this hurricane. This will be an event like so many natural events that we must live by faith and trust that the Lord has a plan.
“He who observes the wind will not sow,” I take to mean a lot of time can be wasted watching the weather. Consider alternatives, at least periodically, to staring at the Weather Channel or out the back door (one of my favorite pastimes). For instance, I’m trying to catch up on my daily Bible reading (yes, I’m about 3 days behind) along with some time spent finishing a book. I realize that some of you are trapped with young children and so free time isn’t in great supply. May we all pray for those caring for young children during this storm. Lord, give them strength! If it’s any consolation young parents, I would give anything to have my three back here living through this storm with me. Can’t help but think about Hurricane Charlie back in 2004.
We do not understand the work of God, Solomon tells us, but we do know His work for us. The sermon I didn’t get to give this morning from Romans 12 includes verses 12-13 where Paul shows us love in action:
“12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
For now we meditate on verse 12. Once this storm has passed (and it will pass) there will be many opportunities to practice verse 13. Be mindful of the needs of others, show hospitality and contribute to needs where possible. Just this morning at the church, I found a family from Trenton, FL living in our worship space. Thanks to the McCreadys we were able to outfit them with two air mattresses rather than having them sleep on the pews another night.
Like Solomon, I don’t know what God’s work with be in this storm, but I am reminded of Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus is Lord over the storm and He comes to us in its midst. Stay safe and I will see you next Sunday if not before.
God bless and keep you,
Alex +