Day 229 - Rain

Rain

So, in the past few days, there has been quite a bit of rain. It seems that every time I would look outside, bits of Heaven would be falling. This was even the case as I went for my walk/jog the other day. When I left the house, it was just cloudy, but halfway into the second lap, I was being accompanied by water from the sky. In the midst of the heat and humidity, the drops of refreshment were a welcome change.
Now, for the longest time, I didn’t like the rain. It was an inconvenience that I simply didn’t want to deal with. It makes people drive slower (but typically worse, which makes no sense). It doesn’t typically allow kids to play outside. It makes the ground muddy and messy. And for people of the female variety, it can do a number on our freshly done hair. While I understood that rain was necessary to water the earth’s vegetation and to provide water for the animals, I wasn’t able to see beyond its minor inconveniences (there may be a sermon in there somewhere, but I’m not going there right now).
But, having lived a little more and looked beyond the minor details, having experienced the refreshment of the rain and having talked to several others, I now appreciate the joy that rain can bring. To give this broader application, I wanna say that the rain is like so much of life. I’m not naïve enough to say that every part of life is magical and wonderful all the time, but I am saying that so much of that which we view negatively can be seen positively if we take a minute to reflect and get beyond the minor inconvenience of the moment.
For example, when a relationship ends, we tend to see it as a bad thing, because there is typically hurt and pain associated. At the time, we don’t usually see any positive or potential for growth and joy. But if we take the time to heal, we can find ourselves stronger and wiser because of the experience. And we venture into new relationships and experiences, we can apply what we’ve learned from the previous experience (in a healthy way, not in an emotional baggage, relationship-killing, bitter way). And if/when we happen to find someone new who is more loving and complementary to us, then the fact that the previous relationship is a blessing, because it opened the door and the space for this new relationship to be a possibility.
Should we go through life with rose-colored glasses, seeing everything as butterflies and chocolate chip cookies? No. But looking for a positive, life-affirming spin on things can make a major difference in our everyday lives. So grab your umbrella (or not) and meet me outside – I think I see some clouds… :-)