PRAYING FOR RAIN V

My friend and neighbor, Jimmy Tobias, flies an airplane for the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

He told me Monday that 20,000 acres of forest in Pickens County are ablaze.

“We need rain,” he said.

I am not a rain maker, but I do know who holds the wind and the rain in His hands.

Could I encourage you and your family to take a moment to pray for rain?

I plan to give some simple daily suggestions in this space.

They will come from various faith traditions.

The prayer for today, the Jewish Sabbath, is a beautiful prayer-poem, composed by Rabbi Elazar ha Kallir, who lived about 1300 years ago.
The first line begins with the word Af Bri, which is the name of the angel of rain:

Af Bri is the title of the prince of rain,
Who gathers the clouds and makes them drain,
Water to adorn with verdure each dale,
Be it not held back by debts left stale,
O’ shield the faithful who pray for rain…

May He send rain from the heavenly towers,
To soften the earth with its crystal showers,
You have named water the symbol of Your might,
All that breathe life in its drops to delight,
O’ revive those who praise Your powers of rain…

Amen.