Hope - Hoffnung

*** Der Originaltext in deutscher Sprache wurde gestern hier eingestellt.

Another Bible Snippet from Verena on Tenerife. She sent it in May but I feel that the days when European borders are opening once more, is a good day to speak of HOPE.

„There are people, quite a few, who say what we are living through these days announces the end of the world. Others claim the Corona-pandemic is God’s punishment for what we have done to his good creation. Have we so little faith in what the Bible tells us? In the Book of Genesis, chapter 9, we can read: This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

The picture left of this text expresses twofold hope. It shows the dark clouds, that promise rain after 14 months without a drop. The hot desert sands that moved across Tenerife with the strongest Camila since four decades has sucked up the last drops of humidity. The semi-desert that stretches over half of South Tenerife has turned more and more into a full blown desert. When even tabaiba and cacti dry up and die, one can understand just how important water is for all nature. For two days now we have had some gentle rain. Humans, animals and plants have breathed a sign of relief, taken a big breath. Rain – how lovely: rainy weather – here, that means good weather.

And this splendid rainbow came right after. What we cannot see in the picute is where the rainbow ends; left of the picture, it would end where our largest hospital is situated, in the southern part of the island, near Chayofa. It that isn’t a sign of hope!

Trust in the new paths that God shows us.
He himself comes our way to greet us, the future is his own land.
Those who set out may have hope for time and eternity:
The gates are wide open, the land is vast and bright.
(The original German lyrics to this hymn are by: Klaus Peter Hertzsch)

My greetings to all friends of the European Bible Dialogues!
May God be with you!
Predicant Verena Wache, Chayofa/Tenerife"