WHERE'S YOUR UMBRELLA?

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - Saint Augustine

 

 

As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers were in confusion as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople. As the problem got worse, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain. Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.
His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. Just then he noticed a little girl, of about eleven. She was sitting quietly in the front row. Her face beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl's innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she'd come with. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella. All had come to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer.

As we plunge deeper into the inner recesses of the year. As we clear out the garbage from the spent and used materials from January, and as most people rejoice, while other sigh and yet others are indifferent. I like to bring to remembrance, the need to see what