Refreshing Their Souls

by: chuck boatman

CEM's Executive Director

Refreshing rain...in abundance! Several major storms brought much needed precipitation to most of California in the early days of 2017. Our ponds here at the Ranch were overflowing. Wolf Creek—which we have to cross on a primitive bridge to get out to “civilization”—flowed fast and deep.

Fortunately, at the Ranch we had no weather-related troubles. However, in many places, floods washed out roads, traffic accidents multiplied, and several people lost their lives. A restaurant in Nevada City was flooded out, and a 100’ wide by 75’ deep sinkhole developed in a Grass Valley parking lot.

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February brought another series of heavy rains to our part of the state. Those who are in charge of deciding such things are saying that the years long drought may be coming to an end. That’s good news!

Human devices enable us to forget that much of the western United States with its burgeoning population is desert. Our flood control and water delivery systems enable us to live as if we never have to worry about water— until a drought comes.
 
The recent drought has taught us how great a blessing the rain is which God has sent. So the rain has brought at least a temporary relief. By nature, I’m inclined to look for analogies in events. In my musings on the weather and its effects, I have seen a parable.

The students who come to the Ranch do so because their spirits are going through a long dry spell. Troubles in school and at home are a common characteristic in their lives. Habitual use of drugs, alcohol and sex are often the means by which they attempt to lessen the spiritual and psychological pain they are feeling. However, these vain attempts at resolving life’s hurtful issues bring washed out roads and sinkholes, spiritually speaking.

Here at the Ranch, we offer the students some high ground where they can find physical and spiritual refuge. Here they can retreat from the storms of life; here they can find strength and healing; here their spiritual droughts can be relieved.

​At the Ranch our students can experience another kind of flood. They are flooded with opportunities to find in Jesus the water of life that refreshes their parched souls. Your involvement in the life of CEM helps provide that life-restoring flood! Thank you!