Peace And Tranquility

The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. 

He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. 

Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12)

As a Sandwich resident, the naturalist in me says this reading from Ezekiel speaks of Cape Cod. Water flows beneath the land and throughout the water table towards the east and south.  At the north gates to Cape Cod [bridges] and especially the Sagamore facing southeast we see Cape Cod Bay water circling to the south and out the Bay with Canal water rushing east [then west].   

Canal water flows east down upon Sandwich with fresh waters from Shawme Lake and Scorton Creek emptying into the Bay’s salty water making it fresher.  Every sort of living creature, such as flounders, striped bass, and lobsters, multiply and are abundant.  The Canal and Bay are temples of a sort where fishermen come to pray (likely more for fish than to God, but who knows).

Along the shore marsh grasses of every kind grow with leaves blowing in the wind and with seeds being scattered hither and yon.  They are watered by the sea and brackish water.  Their seeds feed the birds, and shoreline beauty is medicine for our weary souls.

Of course, Ezekiel had something else in mind when he prophesied.  But for us living on Cape Cod, and certainly in Sandwich, his words bring peace and tranquility to our troubled minds as winter approaches.  

Deacon David Pierce