Thought for Today

Genesis 6:17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.  

Psalm 69:15 Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.  

Matthew 7:27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!"  

Matthew 14:25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.

One of the most beautiful, delightful parts of the state of Texas is in what is known as the Hill Country. “The Texas Hill Country is a geographic region of Central and South Texas, forming the southeast part of the Edwards Plateau. Given its location, climate, terrain, and vegetation, the Hill Country can be considered the border between the American South and Southwest . . . Bound on the east by the Balcones Escarpment, the Hill Country reaches into the far northern portions of San Antonio and western portions of Travis County including the cities of Austin and Lago Vista . . . (en.wikipedia.org)

Some of my earliest memories of family vacations as a child center around San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas. I have loved the region for as long as I can remember. The first family vacation Greta and I took was outside of Kerrville. For many years Greta and I owned property around Canyon Lake, a deep-water reservoir on the Guadalupe River near New Braunfels, Texas. We spent many enjoyable days camping and boating on the lake.

Today, much of the upper Guadalupe River is engulfed in a massive flood. Heavy rains in the upper reaches of the river and the resulting runoff have turned the normally shallow river into a rushing torrent. Other rivers in the Hill Country, the Comal, Llano, Blanco, Frio, Pedernales and Concho all are similar to the Guadalupe. They are generally shallow, rock-bottomed, with (generally) gentle currents. I have always found them to be wonderful changes from the sluggish, dirt-ladened bayous of East Texas.

As you watch the television coverage of the devastating flooding in the Hill Country, understand that this is an area prone to flash flooding. Greta and I have driven the River Road downstream of Canyon Lake Dam and seen detritus from previous floods in the tops of the trees, 30-50 feet above the riverbed. The same Guadalupe River that is a favorite for hot summer tubing.

The entire Hill Country of central Texas is a wonderful place to visit. There is only one interstate highway, I35 between Austin and San Antonio. There are numerous US highways, state, county and local roads that are well maintained. There are a plethora of small towns, ranches, farms and friendly folks. It was and is a great respite from big-city living. If your only experience with Texas is from television stories from Houston, from news coverage of President Johnson’s visits to his ranch, or from the television series Dallas, visiting might open up great new vistas of understanding.

Sadly, however, the Hill Country is in the news today for its own devastation from climate change. Even before we began to see the increased ferocity of hurricanes, the increasingly large forest fires or any of the other results of our planet’s increasingly hot temperatures, the Hill Country was prone to flooding. What we are seeing now is incrementally worse. Years ago a couple from our church in Houston was killed in a flash flood in the area, unable to evacuate in time. Today we are witnesses to even greater devastation and loss. As of this morning there are reports of 24 dead and many still unaccounted for.

As I pray to God this morning, I will also be thinking about all the Biblical stories of floods. I will be asking myself and my Creator God a question almost every one of  our ancestors-in-the-faith must have asked before, “Why?” Why so much violence? Why so many deaths? “Job 31:4 Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?” And, I will be reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” Paul reminds us, “1 Corinthians 13:12 now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Stay safe, pray for the folks in Texas, trust God,

Pastor Ray