Good Morning Church! The Waves and Wind Still Know HIS Name.

That is a line from the Bethel Music version of ‘It is Well With My Soul’. Their version is simply titled ‘It is Well’ and is performed by Kristene DiMarco.

But that line came to my mind over and over as I witnessed the devastation brought on by the waves and wind and rain of Huricanne Harvey.

We sat on our front porch most of the day on Friday and watched as the flood waters rose.

Our home is safely on higher ground but as we watched waves rolling across our front yard the devastating reality so many are facing in Texas continued to weigh on my heart.

Over and over this past week I saw stories about how the rescue efforts have reminded us of who we are and saved our nation from the violence of hate we were seeing rise up again across the country just before the hurricane hit.

And it’s true tragedy always forces us to take a collective breathe — forget our differences and look to what unites us.

It often tears us away from the things we are holding onto and gives us new perspective as we stand empty.

We had several friends concerned for the flooding we had on our property on Friday.

We are very fortunate as I said, to live on higher ground than the flood waters can reach.

And as we took inventory yesterday all we saw was a space that had been washed clean.

Floodwaters have the tendency to do that on our farm.

The flow of the creek always changes a bit after a flood but the debris that has collected over time is completely washed away.

The only thing in the floods path we could have potentially lost, is our bridge.

It was constructed seven years ago and was built to replace a smaller version we had built a year earlier.

The original bridge survived only months — the flood waters common on our little creek swept it away almost effortlessly.

You see the original bridge had very little for a foundation.

Without anchors deep within the bank there simply was nothing to hold onto when the flood waters came.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

It’s all about the foundation.

In our nation we have weathered many storms — but our foundation holds us strong.

Just as the foundation kept our bridge standing through this week’s flood — the Christian foundation we were founded on as a nation calls us back time and time again as we face the fury of a fallen world.

But if you take a closer at the bridge on our property — even though it is still standing — there is cause for concern.

On closer examination you will see the bridge is not as tall as it once was.

The storms have taken a toll.

When you look across at the high bank on the other side of the creek you can see the reason why.

The foundation is there — it’s hanging on— but what circles and protects it is slowing eroding away.

Every year the bank washes just a bit more and the foundation slips and leans a little closer to the waters edge.

Just like the bank circles and supports the foundation of our bridge the faith of our nation circles and supports the foundation that holds our nation together.

And just like the bridge trouble is on the horizon.

As we surveyed the bridge after the flood waters receded we can clearly see there is work to be done.

We need to add supports and build barriers to protect the foundation from further damage.

Our nation is the same.

For the moment as we come together to help our brothers and sisters that have been devastated by the storms we are better.

But as time passes and lives are rebuilt and the world returns to ‘normal’ will we forget the lessons we’ve learned and the truths we seen?

What would happen if over the next few weeks / months / even years, my husband and I forget about the bridge and the trouble with its foundation?

And we let our busy lives distract us from the work that needs to be done?

For awhile longer the foundation may hold — it won’t be as strong as it once was but it may hold and support the weight of the bridge for many years to come — but eventually — if ignored and forgotten long enough — the foundation will one day give way.

Have you ever seen a building, a bridge or any large structure as it collapses?

The spectacle is incredible enough that many will drive for miles just to look at the mess and destruction.

At this point restoring and rebuilding are no longer options and all there is left to do is start over.

The clean up in Houston has only just begun and new storms are on the horizon.

It will be a long time before we fall back into our stupor of disinterest and self centeredness.

And I pray we will all take a long hard look at the foundation of our nation and what protects it.

Sometimes it seems daunting — just like the repairs to our bridge. “I can’t do it alone.”

But even on my own I can do little things ; I can repair the walkway; Start cleaning up around the areas that need reinforcing so when help is available the task will be easier. There is a lot I can do.

The same is true of our nation.

We can’t do it alone but each of us can do a little.

• Reinforcing our families.
• Helping our neighbors reinforce their families — or at least cleanup around the edges.
• Learn and teach the values we were founded on.
• Practice random acts of kindness — daily!

Repairs to the things we see slipping closer to the waters edge will not come quickly or easily but they can get better — if better is what we want.

There is a story in the book of John that comes to mind every time I think about the work we have in front of us.

In the story CHRIST is at the pool of Bethesada — a place where those dealing with illiness and disability would gather hoping for the reputed healing waters of the pool to renew their lives.

As Christ walked through the masses he noticed a man that had been there for 38 years and HE asked him “Do you want to get well?”

If you are familiar with the story then you know that the conversation ended with CHRIST telling the man to pick up his mat and walk — he did — and he was healed.

The story at first seems much like all of the other miraculous stories recorded in the testimonies of those who knew JESUS best but this story is different.

CHRIST asked the man before he healed him “Do you want to get well?”

Almost as if HE thought the man might be motivated to stay in his present condition.

Sometimes we get so comfortable with the way things are we can’t imagine or even hope for something better.

So, that is the question we now have to ask ourselves.

Do we want to get better?

Do we want to save the bridge? Or just start over?

When HE speaks the waves and wind still know his name — but don’t forget — HE won’t speak unless we call.

God Bless

LaVern Vivio

September 3, 2017