This is a prayer John Ruhle used at the recent New South Wales Synod.

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Mid Lachlan Mission Area Drought Prayer

How long Lord....how long.

How long until the parched earth receives a soaking of rain.

How long do the tiny shoots of wheat that promised so much hope have to wait before they can drink in the life giving water?

How long Lord .... How long?

Lord as we wake in the morning we hear the sounds of your creation, through the noise of the birds and the sound of the wind in the trees. Lord we thank you for your creation and recognise ourselves not as owners of your land but as caretakers assigned to look after this place at this time.

God we also hear the sounds of the trucks as the rumble along the dirt roads and we are aware that they will not be carrying our grain produce this year. We also hear the trucks as they come to take away our livestock that is not finished and fattened like we had hoped.

Lord we smell the dryness of the crops and also the change in the air as a weather change comes through that lifts our spirits but then lowers then again as it is a dry change a false hope.

How long Lord....how long?

How long must we feel the despair of dying crops and disappearing fodder. How long must we feel the arms of our spouse give us the knowing hug that says "lets hang on together - again".

How long do we have to feel the pressure form the banks as debts levels rise and accrued interest continues to climb regardless of it raining or not.

How long Lord....how long? How long loving God have you continued to reach out to your people and wrap them in your arms?

How long will you continue to reach out to us and hold us in the palm of your hand?

How long will you continue to call us your people?

Despite all of this we find ourselves standing with the psalmist and saying "I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me.

Amen

(Psalm 13)