After a summer full of rain storms and flooding, the basements are beginning to dry out, the crops are finally growing, and the sun is shining again. I’ll never forget one of our trips to visit our friends in Chicago. It rained so hard that their cul-de-sac got flooded with water and the otter in me had a terrific idea. We got out the water rafts, and we played wiffle ball from the rafts in the flooded cul-de-sac. I’ve noticed that I have a lot more otter fun when the flooding occurs outside and not in my basement.
Flooding can wipe out a farmer’s field. It can take out a community. It can send us to our knees, like back in 1975. I’ll never forget the day when a lay witness mission group from New York came into our church and shared the gospel through music and drama. I went forward and flooded the altar with my tears. I was full of sin and guilt and shame and needed a Savior and forgiveness. I experienced a cleansing of my soul and all my sins were washed away. That was the day of my salvation.
Flooding can also occur when our grief is fresh or when we get triggered by something that floods our memory with emotions. Many times, we have no warning signs when our grief or trauma gets triggered. We get so full of emotions that we don’t know what to do with them. We just start crying. We get panicked, or we just start freaking out, and sometimes we don’t even know why.
Over time, I’ve discovered that I can turn to God, my wife, and my trusted friends when I get flooded with emotions or when I feel overwhelmed. Last week I was so overwhelmed bearing the burdens of my community. I took some extra power naps, prayed a lot of prayers, got extended times with friends, and I recall telling my wife, “I think I just need a good cry and then I’ll be okay.”
Well the good cry came unexpectedly during worship this morning. I sat next to my good friend, Josh, and began singing my heart out. And sure enough, the river of tears came pouring out as I extended my hands and heart in worship to the God who hears my cries and knows my heart. I’m amazed how God keeps surprising me with worship encounters that cleanse my soul and replenish my heart. Whatever got stored up has been released, and now I’m ready for whatever God brings my way this week.
I’m also noticing how restorative play can be. Despite a weekend full of work and helping people, I got replenished playing basketball, foosball, z-curve nerf bow n’ arrowing, kayaking, inner tubing, golfing, and doing sidewalk chalk with kids. When I was a teenager, my sister got so annoyed by my childishness. She used to say, “Glenn, you’ll never grow up.” And I love God’s sense of humor. At age 55, I still get paid to play with kids as God does His helping and healing work through play.
Whatever the storms and floods you’ve been experiencing in your life, I hope and trust that you will turn to God for comfort and strength. He’s the great healer. He relentlessly pursues each part of us until our lives are surrendered and reconciled. Although it may take a flood for us to recognize just how powerful God is, He has unlimited ways to get our attention. My prayer is that all God has to do is whisper in our ear to get our attention.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
Thank you for becoming part of the Spirit-Driven community.
The best is yet to come!