For the Road Ahead

Early on the morning of July 4, a destructive flash flood ravaged the Texas Hill Country. At this time, we know of more than 100 people who lost their lives in the flood, with an additional 160 who are still missing. The recovery efforts are still ongoing, and the communities affected will never be the same. Our prayers, along with our cries of lament, are with the families and loved ones of those affected.

My colleague, Rev. Dr. Becca Edwards wrote this prayer in response to the tragedy.

A Prayer for After the Flood

God of Creation and Love who hurts when we hurt,

Our hearts break with the people of the Texas Hill Country.

A place where so many feel a spiritual connection to the beautiful scenery, the rocky creeks, and the cool, clear water has turned into a place of chaos and danger without warning.

Our spirits feel heavy and tender as we learn of the loss of children, friends, and family members. It feels unbearable. Such loss is senseless, but we know that God is with us, always.

For those who grieve loved ones, give them comfort;

For those who are waiting for news, give them peace;

For rescue workers, give them strength;

For helpers, volunteers, clergy, faith leaders, and medical personnel, give them energy and resilience.

The needs are so great right now. It is hard to know where to start.

Give us wisdom and discernment. Give us strength for the long road to recovery.

Be with our siblings who are facing the unimaginable. Help us know how to help them.

Strengthen our communities, grow our understanding, and give us all peace.

Amen.

I find this prayer especially comforting as I sit with the deep despair this event has filled me with. The more climate change continues to impact our world, the more often we will see drastic and dangerous natural disasters like this. While I always believe we can and should push our elected officials to enact policies that help protect our communities, the time for that is not yet upon us. Right now, we must hold one another tight as we feel the weight of such deep and senseless loss.

As I’ve read story after story about the tragedy, I’ve come across countless people sharing their stories of sacred experiences they’ve had in the region. Now, the loss has forever changed the way they will view and experience those same places. It’s important that we also acknowledge those feelings of loss as real and unsettling. They can happen in many aspects of our lives. A place that once meant comfort, clarity, and safety, is suddenly taken away from you. This can leave us disoriented. It’s often hard to discern what direction to go in after such a dramatic shift in your sense of belonging and connection to the divine nature of the world. As my colleague said in her prayer, it takes wisdom and discernment to realize where to go next.

The road ahead, both for the communities devastated by the flooding, and for those of you who may be looking for direction as you find a new place of comfort and security, is long. It will take strength that only God can provide. We must lean into that truth, and know that our God is there for us even in the darkest shadows and deepest valleys.