Could Not Shake It

Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.” Luke 6:39-49

Life provides us with all kinds of storms. We have watched as hurricane Ian slammed into the Florida coast, destroying everything in it's path. Folks are now rushing to help those who were in Ian's path. And there are others storms that hit us, and we collapse under the weight of it. I sometimes find myself reciting psalms that I learned as a child in times like these, or the Lord's prayer. They were embedded in my being from childhood. I know some of the storms of my life were my own making. Some storms, caught me unawares, in a moment when all I could do was protect my family and keep my head down. The faith given to me from childhood has seen me through.

Great Creator, mysterious and always present

we have been pounded by the storms of life

we have whipped up troubles and storms

yet you are always faithful and lead us home.

Help us to be those who bear good fruit

make us humble and faithful in all things

let your heart planted within each of us

be our rock, our strength in troubled times.

Help us too, to be a rock for the perishing

help us be those who reach out in the storms

make us always ready to respond to others needs

and shelter them in  your loving embrace. Amen.