It Would Have Been Enough*
A warning that the storm is coming
instructions on how to build a boat
strong enough. . . big enough
to withstand the storming waters
In looking to God’s providing,
That would have been enough
Storm waves that rolled but didn’t roll us over
food sufficient for the ride
the dove returning, olive branch in hand. . . or mouth
would have been enough
Standing on dry land
family all safe
livestock and wild things secure
mission accomplished
Survival . . .
For us, for all creation
for plankton and pumas and platypus’ . . .
amoebas and armadillos and aracnids
bacteria and bulls and bugs
viruses and velociraptors and venus fly trays
Our survival would have been enough
But God took it not just one step
but one very gigantic God-leap forward:
“Never again”
The God-promise
while we were still content
to have survived at all
the rainbow-as-a-sign-between-me-and-you-all-of-you
God hanging up for good . . . retiring
the divine weapons of war and mass destruction. . .
turning bows and arrows
into rainbows and raindrops of ‘never again’
Now that was . . . now that is
more . . . oh, so much, much, more
than enough
*The title is taken from the Jewish prayer/litany response to the rehearsal of Israel’s history with God’s providing; the response: Dayenu literally means ‘it would have been enough’. This reflection is Part 1of the sermon reflections preached Sunday, the first Sunday of Lent, focusing on God's rainbow covenant with all creation as recounted in Genesis 9.8ff.
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