I am often amazed at the natural blindness I have to familiar
landscapes. A couple of days ago I noticed that a potted apple tree was
drooping alarmingly. Why was I so surprised? It’s not really rained for days,
and the sprinkling of water I’ve given the garden is obviously not enough. It
was oh, so dry.
Holding the hose over the pot, I let the slow stream of
water soak the thirsty earth. I left it running a few minutes, so that the
roots would be refreshed right to the bottom.
Today, the leaves have perked up, almost cheerfully,
enjoying the summer weather while being refreshed and restored.
Many years ago, while praying with a much younger friend,
she declared these words from Isaiah over my teenage children: ‘For I will pour
water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my
Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring
up like grass in a meadow; like poplar trees by flowing streams.’
Declaring these words over all who droop and feel a limpness
in their lives, all who ‘travail and are heavy-laden’ today, all who are dry,
oh so dry: May the Lord refresh you with his love, his joy, his peace and his
hope. May you sink your roots deep into Jesus, abiding in him, the water of life.
May you spring up like a poplar tree by an ever-flowing stream.
I sense that might apply to most of us in these times.
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