A Rainy Day

It is raining again today. It has been raining all day. Raining, raining, raining. Rain and rain more rain. I would complain but we have been experiencing drought conditions around here since the middle of July. We need the rain. I have a pile of brush on my back lot that I have been waiting to burn for months. I am happy to see the rain – somewhat. If I had my druthers, it would only rain at night and the days would all be sunny.

The rain, coming on the heels of a drought, reminds me of a favorite saying of one our congregation's favorite farmers - Bob Weber. Bob, like many farmers, was somewhat of a philosopher. I think that comes from many years of working hand in hand with God to produce crops. Perhaps the philosophical bent comes from spending hour after hour alone in the cab of a tractor doing repetitious work like plowing. So much work done in such solitude gives one plenty of time to think. Bob Weber and all of the other farmers I have had in my congregations have been thinkers. Anyway, when I would complain about the lack of rain, Bob would always assure me that it will rain again. He would say, "That is why each year we have what they call an average rain fall." I miss Bob, his wonderful smile and his calming understanding of life.

My complaining about a rainy day reminded me of how we tend to approach life. We somehow have gotten the idea that times should never be tough and if they are we have no choice but to come completely unstrung. It doesn't seem to occur to us that if we hang around long enough the good times will return. We also fail to recognize that it is during the difficult times of life that we do our best growing and maturing. If every day were sunny we would die of thirst and if every day were rainy, we would drown.

Wouldn't we do much better in life if we would just embrace and engage each day as it comes realizing that the day is a gift from God and there is something in each day that we can receive from God that is a blessing and a tool for growth. Perhaps it goes back to our basic struggle in realizing that God is God and we are not and that we serve God; God does not serve us.

Anyway, it is raining and I am happy. Oh, no! The rain has turned to snow. I have lived in the Cincinnati area long enough that the sight of snow creates in me a powerful urge to go out and purchase bread and milk and then drive home at 7 miles per hour. ;-0.

Copyright © 2010, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved