Rocks and Dunes

Years ago I hiked in a region of Michigan which offered two distinctly different types of trails – sand dunes and rocky cliffs. That experience comes to mind as I pray with this week's gospel lesson, Matthew 7, 21-29, particularly vs. 24-27.

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!"

From a distance a sand dune conveys an image of solidarity – it looks like a massive sleeping giant!

It looks solid – it is not. It is constantly shifting. Usually its movement is subtle and almost imperceptible. In fact… it may only be by tracing the course of the dune over decades that its transformation can be seen. The solidarity is illusive. A closer look reveals its true nature: grains of sand can be easily with shifted with the quill of a feather!

Contrast that image with rocky paths and ledges: you can rely upon them for footholds and, occasionally, handholds. Walking on rocks, of course, requires vigilance and balance. At times you must slow down and seek the next position – momentum may seem to be stalled, but the foundation upon which you stand will not fail. Even if you must cross a gap of some sort in the path, you can safely use the rocks as stepping stones over hazards.













While walking or climbing upon dry sand, every foot step sinks a bit. Footsteps slip forward and backward and are often counterproductive to the course one desires. Where would you rather be standing or walking if exposed to a flood or a high wind? Sand shifts, breaks down, assaults the skin and eyes. Rocks may get slippery, but their foundation is secure, and the large ones can even offer shelter from the wind.

I realize that most of us don't literally build our own houses. However, as posed so beautifully by Jan Richardson in the most recent posting in "Painted Prayer Book" (link to the right) we do build households all of the time. As we walk through our days every step is a building block of the life comprised of relationships and experiences.

To walk wisely through life I seek the foundation of rock...I pray that I may be established upon solid footholds of faith so that each day I will live, love and serve in wisdom and compassion.