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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 2, 2006 “Bows” in the sky |
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Frontline Devotion for Thursday, March 2, 2006 by Rev. John L. Kallerson
“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature.” Gen. 9:16
Cries of lament go up everyday around us. You’ve heard them. Maybe you are one who has silently asked what so many people cry; “Where are you God? I need to know you’re there. Do you know I’m here? Do you care about me?” We are a questioning people and Lent is a good time for us to examine our questions and reflect upon what God tells us.
The author Carolyn Gratton tells a story that hits the mark for questioning people—and that would be all of us. It seems that there once were some fish who spent their days swimming around in search of water. Anxiously looking for their destination, they shared their worries and confusion with each other as they swam. One day they met a wise fish and asked him the question that had preoccupied them so long, “Where is the sea?” The wise fish answered: ”If you stop swimming so busily and struggling so anxiously, you would discover that you are already in the sea. You need look no further than where you are.”
As God’s people we anxiously fret over the details of our lives. We are “fully human” and fretting is one thing we do well. Noah tried to convince the people that God was all around them but they did not listen and tragedy resulted. We can be like the fish who do not realize they already had what they sought all around them. God’s answer was to set a reminder so all generations would have a way to experience the covenant that God made with his people; the renewal of His blessing given to humanity. The “bow” in the sky is another way we are reminded of God’s transforming presence that surrounds us all the time. We are already in the presence of God, especially when we lift up our cries. The true blessing is that God hears us and answers us. Sometimes it is hard to look for the answers. My prayer is that we all spend this Lent looking for “bows” in the sky and experience the blessing of God’s presence daily.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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