Buying Hope at Home Depot, Again

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; you refreshed the land when it was weary.  Psalm 68:8

It rained Saturday.  In the desert.  And although it made it decidedly more uncomfortable and unproductive for the men trying to roof Mark O’Hagin’s roof, the desert rejoiced.  It has been a long winter.  With hard freezes that left curled brown leaves and dry sticks in its wake. 

And the people did not give up in the midst of bleak discouragement.  Even though the wise people at Botanical Gardens cautioned against it, we all chopped out what was dead, dug down deep, emptied out fresh compost piles, and formed long lines at Home Depot buying hope. 

And it rained.  And the creosote rejoiced in all of its pungency.  And bright orange flowers pushed through the gritty soil.  And fresh green leaves poked out of the trunk of withered lemon trees.  A new wind blew over the Catalinas.  We can all hook hammocks up on the back porches and smile once again. 

Jenny planted beet, carrot, spinach and lettuce seeds last week.  And it rained, a cold heavy rain last night.  Hope springs up all around. 

Blessed be the Lord day by day, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens. He is our God, the God of our salvation. Psalm 68: 19

And thus day by day, we can cast our cares upon You because You are our salvation, and You care for us.  Refresh us today, when we are weary.  Be gracious O LORD.