Going back, way back to yesterday - the Internet told me there was only a slight chance of rain. I could easily explain why I expected nothing for many days.
The Joe Pye, drooping the previous day from lack of rain, told me how much I was going to be watering with kinked up hoses and a broken sprinkler.
Gardener's Gloom is no different from any other kind. We gather the negative implications, sort through them quickly, and multiply that several times over.
"It's worse everywhere else. You should see how dry it is here." GJ - "Your pneumonia won't cure my cold."
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| Sassy waits patiently, only whimpering for her walk every few minutes. This was a time when she offered to clean our plates for us, using her starving dog face. |
Sassy herded me out the door extra early. Why, when she often sleeps through the morning post? The sky was almost black from storm clouds, the air was blowing chilly, as if the storm would come any moment.
Sassy hustled her walk for once, so we came home fast. The first few drops caught us near the driveway. I shut the front door behind us, locked it twice, and headed for the lying computer screen. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed as three inches of rain poured down to fill the rain barrels and soak the soil. The backyard became a lake again - Lake Woebegone?
This coming Tuesday a tropic storm from the Gulf will reach up and give us even more rain.
Sudden reversals of bad news should remind us how pathetic our predictive powers are. That is especially true of stretched out, downward trends. Every hospital test, treatment, visit, and stay is lengthy for us - exhausting for the afflicted and family and friends.
When everything seems bad, good indications become hard to imagine. That is why we have to excuse Dame Hulda, Luther's name for human reason, and rely on God's wisdom instead.
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| Two people met in college, fell in love, and got married. I delivered this vase of Falling in Love roses on their engagement day, and we attended their wedding. |
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| Norma Boeckler is standing in front of her beautiful garden. She has endured three floods since 1986 - she is buoyant. |
"We Sing, Immanuel, Thy Praise"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
"We Sing, Immanuel, Thy Praise"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
Tune - Erschienen ist - linked here
1. We sing, Immanuel, Thy praise,
Thou Prince of Life and Fount of grace,
Thou Flower of heaven and Star of morn,
Thou Lord of lords, Thou Virgin-born.
Hallelujah!
2. For Thee, since first the world was made,
So many hearts have watched and prayed;
The patriarchs' and prophets' throng
For Thee have hoped and waited long.
Hallelujah!
3. Now art Thou here, Thou Ever-blest!
In lowly manger dost Thou rest.
Thou, making all things great, art small;
So poor art Thou, yet clothest all.
Hallelujah!
4. From Thee above all gladness flows,
Yet Thou must bear such bitter woes;
The Gentiles' Light and Hope Thou art,
Yet findest none to soothe Thine heart.
Hallelujah!
5. But I, Thy servant, Lord, today
Confess my love and freely say,
I love Thee truly, but I would
That I might love Thee as I should.
Hallelujah!
6. I have the will, the power is weak;
Yet, Lord, my humble offering take
And graciously the love receive
Which my poor heart to Thee can give.
Hallelujah!
7. Had I no load of sin to bear,
Thy grace, O Lord, I could not share;
In vain hadst Thou been born for me
If from God's wrath I had been free.
Hallelujah!
8. Thus will I sing Thy praises here
With joyful spirit year by year;
And when we reckon years no more,
May I in heaven Thy name adore!
Hallelujah!
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #108
Text: Matt. 1:23
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1653, cento
Translated by: composite
Titled: Wir singen dir, Immanuel
Composer: Nikolaus Herman, 1560
Tune: Erschienen ist
