Dear friends
The hose pipe ban was announced in much of Hampshire just as we were enjoying a family holiday in the Peak District, in a farm cottage, near to the river Derwent. Twice during our visit early morning rains, falling as thick downpours, collecting in several inches of rain in the farm yard. Coming from tinder-dry Hampshire, the heavy rain and the verdant green countryside felt almost miraculous. Home now in the parched Cathedral Close I find myself longing for rain.
A long time ago I remember a Sunday school lesson about water. The teacher carefully placed a drop of water onto each child’s little hand. Although I can’t remember the details of what was said, she conveyed memorably a sense of wonder about the gift of water and its life giving properties, and also the responsibility to use water with respect. She evoked the kind of wonder that William Blake describes when we ‘see a World in a Grain of Sand’ and hold ‘infinity in the palm of your hand’.
Some people will still challenge the link, but there’s now strong consensus around human-caused global warming and climate change leading to extreme weather. The need to use water wisely and to find ways of living with changing weather patterns is urgent.
Christian and Jewish scriptures originate from lands and people more aware than us of the cruelty of drought and the preciousness of water. Water is a sign and symbol of life and birth, cleansing and renewal as desert is a sign of hardship and exposure. Jesus knew what it was like to be parched with thirst and reliant on others for a drink of water.
The change in weather patterns will have profound consequences. I hope that the current dry season will give each of us both a renewed sense of the wonder of God’s gift of creation, and our responsibility to hand it to the next generation with the greatest care. To be willing to make life-style changes to ensure that our descendants may enjoy water, verdant countryside, harvests, health and well-being.
I pray that the current dry season will enable us to recognise our spiritual thirst to live in balance with creation, one another, and with God. This balance is brilliantly summarised by the prophet Micah: ‘Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.’ (Micah 6:8) As we seek to live more justly, mercifully and humbly, may God quench all our thirsts.
I’ll close with a very ancient prayer from the Syrian liturgy of St Clement of Alexandria (c150 – 215) asking for grace and peace.
O God, you are the unsearchable abyss of peace,
The ineffable sea of love, and the fountain of blessings.
Water us with plenteous streams from the riches of your grace;
And from the most sweet springs of your kindness,
Make us children of quietness and heirs of peace.
AMEN.
Please continue to pray for an end to war in Ukraine, and continue to take care of yourself, others and creation.
