Rain Gardens of Hope

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Kerry James Marshall – Many Mansions (1994)

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INVOCATION

Enlighten us, Spirit. 

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ILLUMINATION 

I was reading an article by This Old House called “How to Build a Rain Garden to Filter Run-Off: Create a Rich Plant Basin to Collect and Filter Storm-Water Runoff from Gutters.” 

I don’t even own or live in house. But I do want to possess the magical power to use rain to resurrect a garden. I want to repurpose storms and collect the source of their power in a gutter. 

I started to read, and as I did so, I quickly learned that it takes a lot of work and sweat to redirect the rain from puddles to flourishing flora and fauna: 

• First you must honestly assess the ground to see how much it can absorb. 

• Then you have to discern how deep and how wide to make your bed. 

• After that you have to strip away what doesn’t belong. You have to cut it off at the roots. 

• Then you dig and dig and dig until you get to the bottom of things. 

• Next you have make a way to channel this new flow of life. 

• Then you have to fill it with good rich earth and line your new garden with stones to prevent erosion. 

• Now, after discerning what can grow and flourish, you can plant your garden. 

• Lastly, you must mulch your garden—give it a blanket of nourishment. 

Again, I don’t have a yard. But I do have this body and honestly, I’m hopeful that what is true for the earth is true for it as well. Maybe I can build a rain garden within. 

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CALL AND RESPONSE

Call
Through the day, Spirit, breathe within us.

[Response]
Through the night, Spirit, rest within us. 

Call 
On our best days, Spirit, rain on us.

[Response]
On our worst days, Spirit, shine on us. 

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EXHORTATION

James 5:7-8, The Passion Translation 

Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains. So you also, keep your hopes high and be patient, for the presence of the Lord is drawing closer. 

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BENEDICTION 

from Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

All shall be well,
and all shall be well,
and all manner of thing shall be well.