The Greatest Of These
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
57 Stories For Cycle C
In the midwest the summer of 1993 was the summer of the "great flood." The rains, it seemed, would never cease. Rivers all across the central section of our land broke from their banks, broke through retaining walls and laid waste to ten thousands of acres of farmland and many cities besides. It was a summer of horror for great numbers of our citizenry. Many of them lost just about everything they had.
Tom and Donna Starr manage several hundred acres of farmland in western Illinois adjacent to the Mississippi River. For the Starrs, the flood of '93 was a great catastrophe. They watched in horror as the flood waters moved ever closer to their land. Maybe the rains would let up in time. Maybe the crest of the flood had already been reached and they were safe. Maybe the flood waters would miraculously miss their land. Such were their hopes. This land was their livelihood. This land was their life. "Please God, please!" they cried out in prayer, "spare the land." But the land was not spared. The waters lapped around the edges at first. Then the torrent broke loose. Every acre was under water. There would be no crops this year. There would be an erosion of their soil to devastate future years as well. The Starrs were devastated.
But the worst was yet to come. Their concern had been with their land and livelihood. Now the waters moved in toward their home. Grandpa Starr had had the foresight to build the land up around the house just in case the river would ever spill forth. The Starrs hadn't even thought to worry about the house. As the waters rose relentlessly, however, the house became a grave concern. Maybe one could survive without one's land but how in the world could one survive without one's home? Their prayers now turned to their home. They prayed to God to spare their home. "Spare our home, Lord," they pleaded. "It's all we have." But it was not to be. The raging river inundated their home as well. The basement filled with water. But that was not the end of it. Water rose up four feet high on the main floor of the two-story house.
At first Tom and Donna Starr thought they could ride out the flood safe in their home. They soon realized, however, that their lives would be endangered if they tried to wait out the flood in their house. They would have to abandon everything they held dear. Then another shock wave hit them. Could they get out? Would the pick-up make it through? Were the roads open? Their prayers turned personal. "Spare our lives, dear Lord," they prayed. "Just help us get out of here alive."
The Starrs did get out alive. Their lives were spared. The land was good as gone. So was their house. "We've got nothing left," Tom said to Donna after they finally reached shelter. Donna was silent for a moment. She looked at Tom with tears in her eyes and whispered, "We've got each other. We've got our love." It was Tom's turn to be silent. Finally he spoke, "We've got God's love too."
Tom and Donna Starr agreed that day. On the one hand they had lost just about all their earthly treasures. But they had love. They had their love for each other and their family. They had the love of God. The flood hadn't even touched the greatest treasure of all.
Tom and Donna Starr manage several hundred acres of farmland in western Illinois adjacent to the Mississippi River. For the Starrs, the flood of '93 was a great catastrophe. They watched in horror as the flood waters moved ever closer to their land. Maybe the rains would let up in time. Maybe the crest of the flood had already been reached and they were safe. Maybe the flood waters would miraculously miss their land. Such were their hopes. This land was their livelihood. This land was their life. "Please God, please!" they cried out in prayer, "spare the land." But the land was not spared. The waters lapped around the edges at first. Then the torrent broke loose. Every acre was under water. There would be no crops this year. There would be an erosion of their soil to devastate future years as well. The Starrs were devastated.
But the worst was yet to come. Their concern had been with their land and livelihood. Now the waters moved in toward their home. Grandpa Starr had had the foresight to build the land up around the house just in case the river would ever spill forth. The Starrs hadn't even thought to worry about the house. As the waters rose relentlessly, however, the house became a grave concern. Maybe one could survive without one's land but how in the world could one survive without one's home? Their prayers now turned to their home. They prayed to God to spare their home. "Spare our home, Lord," they pleaded. "It's all we have." But it was not to be. The raging river inundated their home as well. The basement filled with water. But that was not the end of it. Water rose up four feet high on the main floor of the two-story house.
At first Tom and Donna Starr thought they could ride out the flood safe in their home. They soon realized, however, that their lives would be endangered if they tried to wait out the flood in their house. They would have to abandon everything they held dear. Then another shock wave hit them. Could they get out? Would the pick-up make it through? Were the roads open? Their prayers turned personal. "Spare our lives, dear Lord," they prayed. "Just help us get out of here alive."
The Starrs did get out alive. Their lives were spared. The land was good as gone. So was their house. "We've got nothing left," Tom said to Donna after they finally reached shelter. Donna was silent for a moment. She looked at Tom with tears in her eyes and whispered, "We've got each other. We've got our love." It was Tom's turn to be silent. Finally he spoke, "We've got God's love too."
Tom and Donna Starr agreed that day. On the one hand they had lost just about all their earthly treasures. But they had love. They had their love for each other and their family. They had the love of God. The flood hadn't even touched the greatest treasure of all.
