Understanding Nature

Devotional Message from Rev. Mary White

“You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” 

– Luke 12:56

READING THE SIGNS 

Jesus alerts us to attend to the present time, Kairos, the signs of the Reign of God at hand, the nearing of the end. The failure to read such signs leads to the disempowerment of our own lives. To neglect to pay attention to God’s creation, for example, results in the depreciation and even the exploitation of our creation, the creation upon which our lives depend. Our lives are at stake! 

There was a record-breaking flood at Fishing Lake, Saskatchewan, in 2007. 

The cottages near the lake were damaged. To avoid a future calamity, there was great pressure from the cottagers to dig a drainage channel. The Fishing Lake First Nations opposed this proposal because it would endanger the fish stocks and destroy their community. They argued instead that berms be built around the cottages and counselled that there was no rush, that the same bad weather was not going to happen the following summer. The engineers and government officials wanted to know how the First Nations community could be so sure there would be no flood the next year. “Wasps and bees are building their nests and hives low to the ground,” said the chiefs and elders. 

Their wisdom and ability to read the signs and attend to creation were heard. No channel was dug. Berms were not needed. For there was no flood the next year. 

Excerpt from: Betty Lynn Schwab “Rising with the Morning Star”  


REFLECTION QUESTION 

There are many different kinds of signs: natural (clouds darkening), biological (head throbbing), emotional (a smile on a face), social (long applause after a concert), political (who is elected or not), economic (businesses closing), and so on. What signs will or did you see today? Respond to? Prefer to ignore? 

Keep safe, Keep connected. 

Blessings and the strength of Love be with you. 

Rev. Mary,