Leaking Roofs and Musical Moments

(This reading is based on Proberbs 27 and is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of SDAs.)

"A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike" Prov. 27: 15

Experience taught us that it was both safer and less laborious to set a container to catch water dripping from the roof of our house. What that would mean however, was that the dripping of the water would become more audible than if it were to fall directly to the ground. This was something we had resigned to live with - even when there were several containers that had to be set in a single room. As the saying goes, "If you can't win them, then join them." So when a couple of my nieces stayed with my mother and myself (all my siblings had left home), as a coping mechanism, we decided to appreciate the "musical moments" with the combined sounds of the variously sized containers, made of various materials, and having water dripping in them. We decided that this was our "orchestra." So instead of getting to us, it became a game to pick out a tune.

There are times when the "roofs" of our marriages, our extended families, our jobs, our communities, our countries and yes our Church leak, and there are things within these situations that just drive us insane - like dripping water that echos in your head, and just won't allow you to sleep. Why not discover a tune, a rhythm in that "dripping sound?" And isn't it the truth that in fact some of the most beautiful musical compositions were born out of the brutal tragedies in individuals' lives?

                           

I'm thinking for example of the song written by Horatio Spafford, "When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul." This song came to Spafford as he made his way to be with his wife, following the tragedies of losing his business during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and then his four daughters as they traveled by ship to Europe for a vacation with their mother. Horatio was to join them shortly thereafter.

I pray today that even amidst your most distressing challenges you will always hear a song in the dripping taunts of the things that trouble you most. Blessings.

To read and/or listen to Proverbs 27 and to read other related blogs, please click here. 

Photo credits: Click here.