Praying for Rain in 2020

You visit the earth and water it,
    you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
    you provide the people with grain,
    for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.

             Psalm 65: 9-10

My memory ain't what it used to be but I can't recall a summer with more 30 degree days than this one, and it isn't even the end of July. Add to this the absence of precipitation and we have the makings of a drought. We have been teased endlessly in Southern Ontario with forecasts calling for steady rain or thundershowers, only to have them fail in their predictions. on our court there are parched lawns with only the sprinkler system troika maintaining a semblance of green. 

This may already be disastrous for farmers in our region, but should we be praying for rain? I tend to be a skeptic, noting that in the US the days of prayer for rain are often scheduled in states where climate emergency denial is prevalent. Why invoke the Divine Sprinkler when it's a crisis while ignoring the root causes. Then again prayer is always good, but so is paying attention to the science. When we ignore what affects the hydrological cycle we shouldn't go whining to the Creator...or should we? 

The  bible does have prayers for rain including prayers of gratitude when it falls. Other religions have prayers for precipitation as well, including Judaism and Islam. They are an invitation to appreciate rain and never take it for granted. Surely this includes listening to those whose careful study and scientific endeavours point out that climate change may permanently alter the patterns of weather.

Our 21st century prayers for rain can be a form of mindfulness about what makes our H2O planet livable, as well as strengthening our resolve to do what is necessary for positive change. 

We praise You, Eternal God -- God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 
Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel. 
You are the Eternal God, who causes the wind to blow 
and the rain to fall -- 
for a blessing and not for a curse, 
for life and not for death,
 for plenty and not for scarcity.

Jewish Prayer Book