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Fire and Rain: Louisa Chase “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
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You are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you.” Isaiah 43:1b-4a Dear Beloved, Two weeks ago, I rode my bicycle from my home in Wallingford to Bristol. It was a challenging ride, not so much because of the distance (57 miles) or the heat (somewhere around 90), but mostly because the air was filled with smoke. My eyes burned and my lungs felt tight and congested by the end. Wild fires have been burning for weeks in the dry tundra of northern Canada causing tremendous amounts of smoke to be blown down into much of North America making the air unhealthy for millions of people. It seems that wild fires have become common occurrences. Today, I am working from my home in Wallingford, unable to get even a half mile down the road due to floods. In much of our region, the last 48 hours have brought almost as much rain as with tropical storm Irene in 2011 (in some places even more!). This is the second time in twelve years that I have been trapped by a “hundred-year flood.” And, paradoxically, heavy rains and drought are occurring simultaneously. And climate scientists tell us that this June and July have been the hottest ever all over the globe. It is said that the phrase “Be not afraid” (or something to that effect) is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. I know I’ve pointed this out before. In the writings of the Prophet Isaiah, God tells us “Do not fear…When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” God does not ask us to sit passively in fear, but to “pass through the waters” and to “walk through the fire.” We are called to live boldly in God’s love, doing what we need to do to change our ways, to mitigate, and to serve. To be God’s love in a world that so sorely needs it! In the Peace, Love and Light of Christ Chris Heintz Interim Pastor PS: Many thanks to those who have donated to support my Empire State Ride to End Cancer; a 550-mile bicycle ride from New York City to Niagara Falls to raise money for the Roswell Park Cancer Center. www.empirestateride.com If you would like to donate, please put cash in a marked envelope or make checks out to “Empire State Ride” and leave them in the collection plate or send them to BFC. Or CLICK HERE to go to my personal fundraising page to make a secure donation by credit card online.
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