So (Elijah) did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 

1 Kings 17:5-6

A curveball: “something unexpected, surprising, or disruptive” (online Dictionary). Ever been thrown a curveball, ladies? How about a year of curveballs? Not entirely what I expected of 2021, especially after 2020. 

When I signed up for the new Elijah study last February, I was just going to sit back and enjoy Priscilla Shirer’s teaching on this legendary prophet of God. Not so. The first six months of the year cascaded into a roller coaster of emotions. Suffice it to say, I was a dropout. Then a July 4th misstep and I was the proud owner of a metal plate and nine screws, left wrist. Thankfully sutures were out end of July and we headed for the hills!

And then the call came: my brother had been admitted to Palliative care in a Vancouver hospital. He had told me in May he only had six months, but not so soon. Seems I’d just talked to him and he was cheery, planning ahead. The border had been closed, and I had waited. It was now or live with regret. 

As I looked at the Canadian Entry website, the travel ban was lifting in four days. We had our passports with us. We had time to book flights. We were able to comply with the three-day testing window. We were able to be tested on arrival so we could return to the US. In both cases our results were available, and negative, in the nick of time. And best of all, Peter was lucid. In short spurts we relived the memories while anticipating the onramp to heaven. What a gift! Five days later he passed away.

A few weeks into the fall semester—yes, I had signed up for Elijah again—I realized we had been smack-dab in a drought not of our choosing. No, it was not Elijah’s story in a time of judgment; but it was a time of extreme need. And there was God, in the middle of our helplessness, supplying us with bread and meat and water from the brook—in our case, time and attention to detail. Heaven’s rain! 

Go to the brook ladies. God will be there!

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.