10 minute quickwrite: Rain slash Faith

March 28, 2006

So it's raining this morning. And I smell the wet concrete and
something in my soul sours a little bit. I don't know why rain makes
me long for adventure and makes me dreamy, but I am thankful that it
does. It's good to be dreamy every now and then. Maybe I like rain
because it makes people act differently. People carry umbrellas, get
wet, put a jump in their step. The people who get up tight and curse
the rain for raining on their parade or normal day, I want to tell
them to relax. It's raining. Be thankful. It's a sign of mercy. It
rains on the just and the unjust. Water is falling from the sky, how
magical is that?

I have been reading the book of Isaiah. It's a lot about the cities
celebrating and trusting their own strength... the strength of the
city walls, the grandness of their reservoirs, the illegitimate
prophecies of their rulers who tell them everything is great. Then
God comes and humbles the city. In the chapter of praise to God, it
still describes grand cities, but they credit the grandness to the
mercy, might, greatness of God.

It makes me wonder about LA. Where do people put their faith? In
their fancy cars? High Paying jobs? Martha Stewart approved
lifestyles? Their hard bodies? Their Gold Jewelry? I wonder if
there are enough people who have to pray that the bus won't be late
so they will get to work, kids to school, on time. Do they have
enough faith for the city? I wonder if the women who wear high, high
heels have enough faith for city. Each step they just assume they
will make it, they walk without looking at the ground, without
rolling an ankle in those ridiculous shoes. I have a feeling that
the bus riders/high-heelers, are not enough. Therefore I think I
should pray, and I ask you to pray too, for the humbling of our city
to be a spiritual revolution and not a war with fires, men riding on
chariots and earthquakes. What will it take for Los Angeles to know
and worship God, rather than Beyonce, Money, the security in
anonymity that this city offers, that no one knows or cares what you
do so you can do whatever you like.

At lunch I will go outside again to smell this city being washed.