The Journey Continues: Dog Days of Summer and Blessing the backpacks
My journey this week is near the end of the long days of August which has five Sundays. Most of my week was spent enjoying the great indoors. Judy, my wife, spent time on researching. Two interesting articles she found explained why “dog days” is part of our vocabulary — 1. On NPR’s Short Wave, with Emily Kwong and Maddie Sofia, “the constellation Canis which contains the brightest star Sirius (called the Dog Star) is forever associated with the heat of summer. 2. Mr. Rusty Chinnis, who writes a fishing column titled “Reel Time” for AMSun. com says, “‘Dog days’ is a common term among fishermen signifying the long, hot days of August and September when fish can be hard to find and catch, making the early morning hours or night the best fishing time for savvy anglers.” As a retired pastor, I recall August as having a hard time keeping attendance up in church… another type of “fishing.”
This past week has shocked us with the news of the fall of Afghanistan; with news of sudden flash flooding in Tennessee that brought back memories of similar disaster here in Hays County; and with the news of rising illness and death from this last outbreak of the virus.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 is an inspiring word for when “dog day” mentality needs a jolt of praise:
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends outs its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Let us pray for delivery and mercy for the people of Haiti, Tennessee, Afghanistan and for people we know closer to home dealing with this pandemic; especially medical staff and ICU workers who tend the ill. Let us support friends who are quarantined because of positive testing with a daily phone call and friendly support. Let us support the organizations working for the disenfranchised, downtrodden, hungry and needy. Let us be a welcoming community to strangers seeking homes, work, schools, relief in Jesus Name.
But the good news for children is that schools are opened. Many congregations have the children come forward this Sunday in celebration of “Back to School” to receive a special ‘blessing for readiness for the new school year. First Baptist on McCarty Lane call this event the “Blessing of the Backpacks” and children and youth carrying backpacks stand before the congregation as the Pastor offers the prayer. In John 10:10 (NIV): Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
In faith, I know that we are not promised lives without some events that are hard, even disasters, but He does promise to walk with us as our Lord and Savior. He waters with love, and mercy — He makes it possible to keep on keeping on bearing fruit for His Kingdom.
