Meteorological summer ended this past weekend, and with that 2024 is officially the third driest summer on record in central Ohio. From June 1 through the end of August, just 5.07 inches of rain fell, nearly 8 inches below normal for this time of year. I just looked at the 10-day forecast and there isn’t much hope for rain in the days to come. Drought wears on you, it makes you tired and cranky. All the garden efforts and lawn manicuring seem like they went for naught.
One of Jesus’ most famous proclamations recorded in the New Testament is a powerful discourse on moral, righteous and faithful living. The “Sermon on the Mount” includes a collection of wise sayings known to many Christians as the Beatitudes, which reflect the kingdom of heaven on earth when embraced. Each of these eight statements include qualities of righteous living and the resulting blessings for those who chose to live into them.
In the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus goes on to teach parables about salt and light and the true meaning of the law. These parables instruct about holy ways to live that require humility, deference to others, and holding others in high regard rooted in sacrificial love and deep respect and regard. According to Jesus, living faithfully is not compliance to laws but is rather about grace, mercy, and kindness. Right in the middle of the passage about loving our enemies and praying for those that persecute you, Jesus states that God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45).
In my mission travels I have had the opportunity to walk through the beautiful tourist pilgrimage site on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, where it is believed that Jesus first spoke to the persistent crowds seeking to hear his words. That part of the world is dry with an average annual rainfall of a fraction of what we receive in central Ohio. Also, that part of the world, near the very place where these teachings first echoed from a hill overlooking a sea, is engaged today in turmoil and conflict and heartbreaking destruction. Jesus’ directive to love and pray for our adversaries has never been more pertinent.
Back here, the lack of moisture in our area has put a lot of stress on trees, crops, lawns and plants around the region, leading to the likelihood that fall colors will be minimal and the pageantry of Ohio autumn will be lacking. Midwestern farmers face the harsh reality of when too much sun and not enough rain produces soybean plants without beans. The corn is hurting too; the ears are shorter with fewer kernels. As a result, two-dozen counties in Ohio now qualify for national crop disaster insurance according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This is of course of great concern. But perhaps what should break our hearts and bring us ever to our knees is a world of spiritual and moral drought. God have mercy!
Rev. Virginia R. Teitt is director of the New Wilmington Mission Conference.
