“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (Matthew 5: 44-45)

Today’s gentle morning rain has evoked many wandering thoughts, even memories from childhood. In the midst of top headlines regarding flood waters in Texas, I pondered  the extremes that rain can cause in our world. Case in point–consider the days of Noah. This remarkable story in biblical history has been the topic of many sermons and even made its way into movie studios.

For anyone that knows me, there’s no doubt  my heart is not breaking for all the families who have lost loved ones in the Texas flood. I cannot imagine. As a mom, and now a grandmother to four young children, if I overthink the situation and insert our own loved ones into the headlines, well, let’s just say “there would be no words to describe my pain”.

I found this simple quote online. “Water is life”. It also can cause devastation.  It ties in to the verse I’ve used to open this blog entry. God’s creativity in a gentle rain as well as forces contained in waterfalls, flood waters, tidal waves, etc. are part of our world.  Choosing to be outside in a gentle rain causes no discomfort other than getting damp clothes. Being in the path of raging flood waters is an entirely different experience. 

In 1986, living in Saginaw, our area experienced unusual rainfall for several days that caused the Saginaw River to crest. Other small rivers in surrounding counties also overflowed their banks. Many homes and businesses were under threat. Emergency crews worked tirelessly building walls with sandbags to hold back the water. My husband and I joined forces with his employer at the time–Domino’s Pizza–to deliver pizzas to the workers. Accompanying us was a Saginaw Police officer who was assigned to the city’s schools as a liaison. In the midst of this tragedy, we did our part to ease some burdens.

Our own residence saw at least 12 inches of water in the basement. A branch of the bank that employed me suffered extreme damage from flood waters created by the Cass River. Water levels tall enough to cover the cash vault and safe deposit boxes were record highs.  Numerous homes in my county experienced basements that cracked and caved in due to water pressure. Crops near floodplains were destroyed. In short, our area was a mess, further indicated by the amount of household trash that started appearing on curbsides for garbage pickup. Warnings to junk scavengers were published as a way to protect folks from dangers of bacteria.

When tragedy strikes under forces created by water, it’s difficult to understand Jesus’ words that rain “falls on the just and the unjust”. Simply understood, a rainy day can either be one of gratitude or a reason to grumble. The farmer whose fields are parched is thankful for nature’s thirst quenching for dry crops. Vacationers looking to enjoy sunning tired bodies under a hot sun at a beach groan with disappointment when an umbrella replaces sunscreen.

This week I’ve heard some pretty miraculous stories of survival in the Texas flood. I cannot ignore or discount the equally heartbreaking ones about death, especially for many children. I’ve also heard accusations and blame being cast on public officials regarding how quickly the floodwaters were produced by the heavy rainfall, as if ANY one man could have restrained the water.  All the blame and accustations made me very sad.

In the account of Noah building the ark, God actually allowed him to preach repentance to the people living in very dark sin. It took Noah approximately 120 years to build the ark, therefore, in those years Noah’s community was warned, given ample time to repent. I don’t know what God would have done if indeed many would have turned from evil…with every blow of Noah’s crude hammers and tools, sermons and warnings weren’t enough to hold back God’s anger and eventual flood waters that wiped out all living things on earth, saving only eight people and a bunch of animals. 

Yes, water IS life. But it is also a force to be reckoned with in God’s creation. When tragedies come, innocent lives will be taken. I read a social media post where the person wrote “why did God kill those children in Texas?” to which my answer is “He didn’t”. Since the original sin of Adam and Eve, we live in a fallen world. After Noah’s flood, our world changed again. We live under the “laws of creation” and “the laws of man”. 

The Bible speaks about times that will come…famines, earthquakes, rumors of war…it also tells us that no one knows the time or hour that Jesus will return. Scripture doesn’t leave us without warning or protection, though. Our response is to be ready. That readiness isn’t an escape route; it comes by having a relationship with Him. 

I grieve with those who are grieving in Texas. I rejoice with those who are joyous and thankful for spared lives. And, in my despair, I remain connected to the truth that “God’s thoughts and His ways” are above mine.

Unfortunately, future tragedies will be coming to our world. Will you be ready? Jesus said “He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That’s what I call an escape plan from any harshness the world throws at us.

I found a simple quote online that merely says “water is life”. I also verified that an average human can only survive about 3-5 days without water. In contrast, a person “may” survive without food for one to two months. That’s quite a difference.