Parables of the Earth: The Lord of the Coastal Marsh

marsh-morning-mistThe dawn began with a morning mist that hung just over the water. I was anticipating a day on the water on the inner coastal waters of the Back Bay but not expecting to find a view of the dawning light through the mist and trees. It reminded me of the way God waters the soul with a gentle sustaining grace that comes from within. The watering of earth with a mist shows up as early as the second chapter of Genesis, which is before the fall of man. Even since the fall, the evening and early morning mist serve some of the same purpose: it waters the earth. As the sun rises the temperature rises; the mist quickly evaporates. In that transition period, the low sun through the mist sets up a picture of the dawning of a day. But the conditions are fleeting, like the wooing of the Lord in a man’s heart. If the man does not take notice, God’s reminder of the passage time and his calling man to take notice of his frailty goes unnoticed. So my first lesson for the early morning scene was simple: remember the Lord and acknowledge Him first.

 

 

 

 

marsh-lining-the-water

As the day progressed the sea breezes begin to pick up. I paddled from a small canal to the open waters of the bay. I could see little beyond the light brown lines of tall marsh grass that formed the boundary for the bay waters. Their golden color in the later afternoon sun makes them stand out. The grasses are densely packed. They surround nearly every shoreline of the coastal bay. When you get close to them, they tower above a boat. But it is what you cannot see that makes them special.

 

 

 

marsh-tall-grassAt the base of these marsh grasses is a dense root structure. It permeates a wet dark combination of soil, mud, and water. You cannot walk through it or stand on it easily. A single stalk of this marsh grass will not give this impression, but these grasses live interconnected to the dense root structure that is anchored into this most unusual ground. Tidal changes bring water through the weave of roots. The whole structure acts like a giant horizontal filter–purifying the water and extracting nutrients. It also is the location for an incredibly wide variety of life from single-celled creatures to fish to birds. It is a place of safety for animal life. The Spirit of God spoke to my heart: the marsh grass is like a place of constant repentance. In that place, God purifies us…one step at a time, washing over us with His water, extracting from us the things that hinder us from knowing him, and providing a place of safety for our souls.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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