That was some storm last night. The weather had been cloudy and threatening on and off all day but at about 6 PM the wind picked up, the clouds thickened, the skies roared with thunder and flashed with lightening, and the rain was torrential. When it finally subsided, and it looked like the skies were clearing, I hoped for a rainbow, but the clouds closed in again, this time with a soft gentle rain.
The ancients, although they certainly knew the signs of impending storms but not understanding the origins of storms, ascribed rain and sun to God’s doing. Biblical imagery is full of phrases such as “God makes the sun to shine” as an example.
We moderns may have a better scientific understanding of storms, such as the one last night, but can we say we have a better understanding of our relationship with God or each other? We explain away origin stories such as the rainbow in Genesis, but unless we change our wasteful ways of living, we will destroy even the rainbow.
Prayer for the Day
Like our ancestors we search the skies for signs of your presence, O God,
But we ask ourselves whether we truly want you breaking into our lives;
Like our ancestors we are uncertain of where you will lead us, Holy One,
So we invent excuses to resist your call to care for others.
Grant us the ability to see the consequences of our actions, O God,
So we may live a truly righteous life according to your will.
In the name of the One who calls us to care for the earth,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
How we see our situation is itself already a moral activity, and one which, for better or worse, made by urgent process.
Iris Murdoch, from A Guide to Morality (1919-1999)
Where does the rainbow end, in your soul or on the horizon?
Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet (1904-1973)
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 the covenant between God and every living creature on earth.
Genesis 9:13-15