The Church of the Exception

The ride across the state had been pleasant. A before dawn departure allowed the parson to meander the back roads through the mountains. Having reached a village well north of his destination he turned south following the winding river

Out of the hills of Habersham

Down through the valleys of Hall.

The parson watched the mountain stream on his right running parallel to his journey. At this juncture it was but a reflection of what it would become. It was the river of his youth, the Chattahoochee, of which Sidney Lanier had written with eloquence the poem, Song of the Chattahoochee, young Georgia boys once were required to learn. Leaving Habersham County and entering the County of Hall, the parson recalled the last verse.

But oh, not the hills of Habersham,

And oh, not the valleys of Hall

Avail: I am fain for to water the plain.

Downward the voices of Duty call –

Downward, to toil and be mixed with the main,

The dry fields burn, and the mills are to turn,

And a myriad flowers mortally yearn,

And the lordly main from beyond the plain

Calls o’er the hills of Habersham,

Calls through the valleys of Hall.

The poem described the mighty Chattahoochee River that quenches the thirst and irrigates much of Georgia. When a boy the parson witnessed on many a weekend the river running through the valleys of Hall. As a youth the parson saw the Corps of Engineers build the dam that formed the massive Lake Lanier which now supplied drinking water to Atlanta and all the cities north along the river. The lake was massive with almost seven hundred miles of shoreline and 39,000 acres of water. The release of water from the lake effected everyone south of the dam all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.



The parson crossed a familiar bridge. Only the channel of the river was wet. To each side stretched hundreds of yards of dry lake bottom. Suddenly the extent of the drought impacted the parson as he passed bridge after bridge spanning the same scene of dry lake bottom littered with beached boat docks. No wonder watering lawns was outlawed now and car washes were closed. The radio said if it did not rain significantly in the next three months drinking water downstream would be rationed.

Everywhere the grass was brown. Everywhere things looked parched. Everywhere, that is, but one place.



The parson arrived at his destination. He gave his talk and headed out, pulling into a convenience station in only a few miles. Even hybrids need nourishment occasionally. Tank filled, the parson headed for the refreshment stand. With cappuccino in hand he started back toward his car.



“Hey parson,” called an old friend.



The parson turned toward the voice and was delighted to see someone from his history. They talked a bit, filling each other in on the whereabouts of whomever. Eventually the conversation turned to the church.



“Yep, I’m attending the Church of Unbelievable Expectations and Divine Deliverance In-the- Here-And-Now,” said the parson’s old friend.

“Is that the church up the road with that beautiful lawn?”



“It is,” said the old friend.



“The one where the grass is so green?”



“That’s the one.”



“Can you tell me why the pavement was wet along the curbs?”

“Oh, I guess that’s where the sprinklers were going this morning,” the man said.



“The sprinklers were going? Don’t you folks know we’re in a drought?”



“Well, parson, he said, “the water restrictions don’t apply if your shrubs and grounds are professionally maintained.”

“Don’t you think you should stop watering anyway?”



“It’s important our new campus be appealing and attractive, parson.”



The parson thought a moment. “Well, it’s not,” he said.



“What’s not what?” the man said.

“Your church is not appealing and your church is not attractive.”



"Now wait just a minute."



The parson didn't. He left.



Credits: Picture of Chattahoochee is from flyboxoutfitters.com; picture of Lake Lanier from Google Images; picture of Lake Lanier in drought is from Georgia Tech Research News. Picture of Church is from Clip Art Dot Com and is not of the church in the story.

 

Comments

[PastorPaul51]

This serves a great point...we are in a REAL water emergency. Folks, need to pay attention...thank you for making the pointvery clear...It is really hard to imagine that folks don't get it but watching the news last night says they don't.

[tnrambler]

Parson, thank you for bringing the point home about this drought and how our actions do not present the witness that we need to present.