One Hope. Above all. Through all. In all.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
When you walk through fire you shall not be burned
And the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the lord your God…
Do not fear, for I am with you
Isaiah 43: 2, 5a
The stone remained in the stream for ages.
Having fallen into a river from a distant ledge,
Breaking the grasp from a bolder far away.
Pushed by raging floods
into an easy stream.
Left behind in the
resending waves
remaining
undisturbed
motionless.
Waters moved
Smoothly,
Steadily,
Caressing the hardness,
Touching,
Loving
A seemly unyielding surface.
Hour upon Hour
Day upon day.
Time upon time
Over. Under. With.
Divine Love
Surrounding.
Washing.
Weeping. Soothing. Splashing.
Sacred water breaking into the hardness.
Hollowing the core.
Creating a separate hallowed stone
Tossed by Omnipotent Powers
Formed into a seed
Cocooned inside a womb awaiting life.
Hope.
Breathprayer:
Breathing in: Abiding Hope
Breathing out: … encourage our lives.
Reflection: Hope finds a way to grown within the continual
washing of God’s grace.
Describe a seed of hop that has grown within you.
This reflection is written for the Online Lenten Devotion of the Southeast Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.*
www.seiasynod.org/lent
*The photo is taken by Sara Dyrud Byan.