大象传媒

Good morning to you. If you鈥檝e been listening to Radio 4 since it began this morning, you鈥檒l already have heard two weather forecasts 鈥搊ne specifically for shipping - and if you missed them, there鈥檒l be another one along in a few minutes. These days, I can set my location on any one of a number of digital machines and get a weather report and predictions for anywhere on earth for the next couple of weeks whenever I want it. In fact, I鈥檓 silly enough, if I don鈥檛 like the sound of one forecast, to search for another to see if it鈥檚 better!

Of course there are days when our plans for the day depend to some extent on the weather, and some jobs, on land or sea, or in the air, are greatly affected. On a personal level, well, barbecuing in the rain isn鈥檛 good. I remember once trying to do that under a garage door! And if it鈥檚 too hot, mowing the grass may have to wait. By and large, though, only the extremes of weather make much difference to what we want to do today.

It鈥檚 an obvious truth that our plans cannot change the weather. If it鈥檚 going to rain, it鈥檚 going to rain! For those who look at the world through the eyes of faith, the weather is one way in which we鈥檙e constantly reminded of the unpredictability of life, the immensity of our universe, and our tiny significance in the whole creation. It鈥檚 not about praying for the weather that suits us. It鈥檚 about acknowledging that if God is, then God is great.

Into your hands, creator God, we commit ourselves this day. Whatever we plan to say or do, remind us of your greatness. Amen.