08/08/2024
Sprinkler Grace
It was the height of summer in Oklahoma, and I had gone out on a short bike ride, just around the nearby lake which has a nice wide trail. I had gotten out before the heat of the day had really cranked up, but was already hot, and I could feel the heat from the paved trail and my body as I continued on the loop around the lake. Usually, a bike ride is a good way for me to clear my head and just breathe, but this time I found myself “heating up” in my brain and heart as I pondered some unpleasant and confusing situations around me. I felt churned up and unsettled. As I cycled past the Headquarters of Kicker USA, I noticed their sprinklers were on, and their grass was so green and lush, it looked like an oasis compared to the dry brown grass next to the trail. I often times take advantage of sprinklers while on a run or ride to cool down, so this time I didn’t hesitate to look for traffic and cross the street. I dismounted my bike, and used a small concrete pad area to let the sprinklers rinse me down as they made their rotations. The cool water felt so refreshing, and I just let my hand play in the sprinkler's stream. There was also a soft breeze, which added to the cooling effect. It occurred to me that this is how God’s grace can be. It’s always around, in many different forms, we just need to become aware of it, slow down, stop, go towards it, and be fully present in it. I didn’t get any answers in those drops of water, but I did get my spirit renewed in the cooling waters. And that even “playing in the sprinklers” can be a form of prayer. So be on the lookout for chances to “play in the Sprinkler” and let yourself be renewed by God’s Grace.
