May 9, 2024 – The Dollar Spot Devotions: The Floppy Hat – A Must For Climate Change

“At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,  and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:22-28

The older I get the more things change for me. Before I began to lose my hair, I never wore a hat outside. Now, I have a hat, a backup hat, and a backup hat for my backup hat. Why? Because I have to keep the sun off my head, my nose and my ears because – well because I never wore a hat when I was a kid, and now I have to worry about skin cancer. So, everyone should have a floppy hat or a cowboy hat of some kind to keep the sun off our noggins. 

Weather has been around since the beginning of time – that is a ridiculously obvious statement. And now, the weather seems to be changing – or something new is going on. And, that is only my observation, not my politics. But isn’t it nice to know that even Jesus had to deal with the weather – winter and summer, a short spring or fall.  Maybe Jesus was using the Portico of Solomon to avoid the cold wind, or the cold rain.  Either way, Jesus had to deal with it, just like we have to deal with it. 

On the day of the crucifixion, the sky turned dark – and an earthquake shook the ground. Weather and natural “disasters” are a part of our lives – whether we are talking about earthquakes, hurricanes, swarms of locusts, or massive dust storms. With each event, we are reminded of our utter dependency on the Grace and mercy of G-d. No matter what steps we might take to control these events, we will never be able to completely keep them from harming people and the earth. And yet, through each event, we are reminded that G-d does not forsake us in these disasters. Just as the Spirit was released when the earthquake struck on the day of the crucifixion and many of the dead were seen roaming the streets, the same Holy Spirit is released when disaster strikes today – and it can be seen in the actions of first responders, assistance agencies, neighbors, communities and religious organizations across the world.  

Disasters will always be with us – but that does not mean that G-d abandons us. Instead, G-d releases the Holy Spirit to sweep into the lives of those affected to sustain and keep them in his love, mercy and Grace.

Pastor Dave