House on the Sand

On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:22-29

I love sand. It is really a part of my DNA. I grew up by the ocean and loved sitting in the sand as a child, having the waves wash over me and fill my suit with wet sand. Sand is also very unstable. It can blow away, wash away, and be carried to strange other places. In the winter it can be cold in the winter, and in the summer, sand can burn tender feet. We often try to build permanence on places that are unstable and unpredictable. The beauty captivates us and we think we need to build there. Even before the climate crisis, Jesus reminded us not to build on the sand.

Loving God, you fashioned the world for us

giving us seaside and great towering mountains

placing us in safe places protected from the storms

promising to be our strength and our loving guide.

Yet we think we know what's best for us here

we constantly build on unstable, changing places

our arrogance refuses to see the storms coming

we find ourselves crying out to you in trouble.

Help us to always take our time when we build

trusting in you and not in our own perceptions

make us patience and prayerful every day

so we might build on the rock of your love. Amen.