The Rain Barrel Runneth Over

Two weeks ago, the grass had turned a dull shade of yellow and made a crunching sound with every step. Water bans were placed on several cities forbidding lawns and flower beds to be watered.   We were not under a water ban as of yet, but in anticipation of its arrival I was tempted to fill my almost empty rain barrel with the water from the back yard hose.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to such delinquent behavior!

The rain arrived first with short “isolated” showers and eventually, within a few days, the sky burst open and torrential rain bounced off the hard and barren front lawn.

We sat on our front porch debating if we should risk getting soaked so to spread grass seed on the brown spots that had formed.  We needn’t worry.  The perennial grass filled itself with the fresh warm rain returning to a lushness which seemed near impossible the day prior.

The same can be said about the almost empty rain barrel; fresh summer water now spills over its top, nourishing the once wilted flowers by its side.

Such is life. We go through some journeys that leave us dry and parched; convinced that we cannot possible carry on and all flourishing has passed.  Then, out of the blue something happens.  Sometimes it is as simple as a phone call from a friend, a card in the mail or an email that leaves us smiling and able to take the next step.

God has promised we will not be left alone in such difficult times. If we hold onto our faith and trust in God’s presence our dried up souls will once again be filled with refreshing waters.

As promised in the 23^rd Psalm,  “My cup runneth over .  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life;…” (Psalm 23:5-6)

Join us this Sunday for a shortened summer worship service at Port Elgin United Church (virtually via YouTube, Facebook or our website) as we spend some time singing, reflecting and praying to our ever abiding Shepherd!

Blessings,

Rev. Heather McCarrel

Photo by Waldemar Brandt used with permission/Unsplashed