It had been winter for a very long time, and it snowed a little every day. His neighbors could not understand why anyone would want to collect snow. In fact, they swept it, shoveled it, bulldozed it out of their way. Many of them thought he was strange.
Some even thought he was crazy.
The grown-ups did not enjoy the snow. Except for feeding the livestock and hunting for food, they stayed indoors. The children enjoyed the snow. Every day they played in it. They had great fun! Every evening when they returned to their homes, they were happy ... and they were covered with melting snow.
Each day, the man fed his livestock, provided for his family’s needs, and collected snow. He did all of his chores quickly, completely, and with a smile. Then, he went out to collect the snow. It really was everywhere. It was on the ground, and on the trees. It was on the sidewalks, and on the streets.
He never shoveled the snow from his yard, nor from anyone else’s yard. He never collected snow from the trees or the countryside. He collected the snow from the roads, but only the clean snow. And he went from neighbor to neighbor to ask, “Would you like the snow cleared from your walk? No charge!” They always said yes.
The man put the snow into barrels, bottles, cans, and jars. He put the snow everywhere he could imagine.
Then one day, it stopped snowing.
Soon, the snow began to melt. Flowers bloomed and grass grew green. Winter was over. Everyone was pleased ... for a time.
The days grew longer and hotter. The air and the earth grew drier. The grass and flowers and crops began to die.
One day, all of the man’s neighbors came to his house. “Why is your land green and growing crops? Why are your livestock not sickly and thin?” They demanded answers. “Where did you get the water? And why won’t you share with us?” So, the man led them to his barn. Inside were barrels, bottles, cans, and jars ... filled with water. He handed one to the nearest neighbor. The man’s name was neatly printed on it. “Come,” said the man, “take back the snow I collected from your walks.” He gave each of them their share.
Then the man answered them. “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven. The season of the snow is not when it comes. The season of the snow is when it melts. It’s purpose is to replenish and refresh. When the winter is over and the air grows warm, then is the time of the snow. But until that time, it appears useless to everyone ... except children ... and fools. In this way, the snow is like the word of God in Isaiah 55:10-11.”
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 10 (15) (July 12, 2020)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=150
Genesis 25:19-34
Psalm 119:105-112
Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
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Another Friday of social distancing keeps us from in-person gathering for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. Keep reading and keep praying for one another. Above are the coming week’s scriptures and a little story i wrote in the mid-1980s that was inspired by this week’s Isaiah selection.
Keep safe,
Steve
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