Crayons To Coffee Cups

See also:
A CONVERSATION WITH A CATHOLIC
MAKING SENSE OF CATHOLCISM

Bring An Open Umbrella To A Famine I would like to share a story that I wrote about having faith in God. The rains failed again this hot summer. It was the second year in succession. The crops had all but disappeared and the land was a brown and lifeless. Trees stood out but only representing cactuses in the hot dusty horizon. The stream where people gathered to fish and children came to play was dried up. The riverbed now looked like a checkerboard with deep crevasses. The birds all but disappeared except for the vultures that circled the town, looking for a carcass or two of an animal that was left dying. There was famine in the land. People surviving on whatever rations were brought to them by trucks that we distributed by charities from far-off lands. The people gathered many times to pray that God would send rain to replenish their land. One hot evening, the entire village once again met for prayer. As they began to beseech the Lord for rain, one child came running from the town, holding high an open umbrella over his head. The people could not help but notice this child and his umbrella. Some were curious; others were annoyed by the commotion that this one child was creating. One of the villagers admonished the child by saying, “Why did you bring the umbrella, O foolish child? Don’t you see there is no rain and we have come here to pray for rain?” The villager was certain that this child was making a mockery of this unbearable situation. He again scolded the child by saybrella, you should be kneeling and praying for God to deliver us from this torment.” The child quickly replied with a sense of complete assurance in his voice,“Sir, I too came to pray. I am certain my prayer will be answered and it will rain. I have complete faith in God.That is why I brought my open umbrella.” SClutts