Brown Grass

Today, they are predicting rain. Some might grumble a little bit. We’ve had a pretty good run on nice weather as of late. The temperatures have been pleasant. There have been some warm days, but all in all it hasn’t been too bad.

The only down side of the good weather that we have been experiencing is the lack of rain. It has caused the lawns to take on a nice brown shade.

I listened to a garden and lawn expert the other day say that often times we think that our lawns are dead. This isn’t the case, he explained. The lawn is merely dormant. With the lack of rain that we’ve experience over the past few weeks, lawns go into a dormancy faze. Grasses have the ability to go dormant for varying lengths of time depending on genetics, health of the grass, and sometimes the strength of the root system.

“Not too worry,” was the explanation. “All it needs is a little water.”

That got me thinking a lot about the ritual of the summer season in the church and the very real possibility that many of us have gone dormant spiritually. Often times we take breaks in the summer, we fall away from our spiritual disciplines, and we find the latest and greatest excuse as to why we didn’t come to worship.

When we go through those seasons, we tend to go into a spiritual dormancy. Everything is going really well on the outside. It’s sunny and warm. But in reality, we are not getting the things that can sustain us and so we turn brown and brittle.

You can make a good case that all is not lost. The psalmist writes that those who plant themselves by streams of water will prosper and bear fruit (Psalm 1). If you have good genetics, a good root system, and you are relatively healthy – all you need is a little water.

Jesus once said, “If anyone is thirsty, let them come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them (John 7:37b-38).”

Are you in a spiritual dormancy? If you are, maybe all you need to do is reconnect and reestablish your relationship with Christ. Are you thirsty? Maybe all it will take is a tall drink of the water that will bring streams of living water from within you.

Now is a great time to come out of that dormancy. Fall programs are beginning and ministries in churches are coming back to life. Tap into something, it won’t take long for you to brighten up.

Today, they are predicting rain. I hope that we get a lot of it! And I hope that you get drenched.

Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg

It is . . .snowing!

People say it often, “Greg, you act like a big kid!” My usual response to such a statement is one of gratitude rather than disdain. It is largely true and in my opinion, one that illustrates my personality. I take to heart the admonition from scripture that one must become like a child in order to inherit the kingdom.

Today is one of those days that confirm my child-like spirit. January has been less than exciting in terms of its weather, but today we finally had a prediction of snow. Initially, the reports were less than exciting – maybe less than an inch. But as I drove to work today, it was coming down, and coming down quickly.

There was that child-like inner spirit that was getting really excited. I Love Snow! I have said often that I love snow, mostly because I love all of the seasons. It’s January, and so it should be snowing would be my opinion. I know that it is not a popular opinion, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

In my first appointment, we lived in the midst of the northern Snow Belt in Western Pennsylvania. To Pittsburghers, that’s what weather forecasters refer to as “above I-80.” Actually, I think it is misleading to talk about “the” Snow Belt. I like to think that there are several belts, and the severity of the snow in that belt just depends on the weather. We lived about 5 miles out of Titusville, and could get walloped with snow. Drive into Titusville, and there could have been a dusting. Drive 5 miles north of our home, and conditions could be more severe. However, the total opposite could be true in any given snow event.

I remember one year while we lived in Titusville, we had snow everyday for what seemed like 14 days. We had lake affect snow everyday in that period ranging anywhere from 6 to 10 inches. I remember because I shoveled our drive and porch everyday, and sometimes several times a day. Even in that much snow – I loved it.

In addition to shoveling, I would take walks in the woods, take Sarah for rides in the snow, and even sled ride with the children of the church. You now see some childlike behavior emerging.

But in spite of the shoveling and the fun, I think what I like most about the snow is that at this time of year, the snow seems to make everything new again. Snow has the capacity to cover up the dirt and the grime, it makes everything clean again.

There is something to be said for us as humans. We need the snow every so often to cover up and make us clean again. It is a chance to see that there is a better way of living. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer the clean to the dirt.

Lent is coming up, and while I suppose it would have been good to wait until the beginning of Lent to talk about this – it snowed today. It reminded me of a Psalm and prayer of cleansing and pardon. Psalm 51 asks God to wash us clean, wash us thoroughly from our iniquity. And then this is the part that I like, the part that I prayed as I was driving in that new, fresh, driving, snow – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

This time of year, I imagine that there are a lot of us that feel like we need a fresh start, a clean start. It’s only January 22, and we already feel like we need to be made clean. Take a look at psalm 51 – it’s a good prayer, and a good start. You don’t have to like snow in order to ask for it. Just pray it this day and God will bring that cleansing for you.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10.


Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg