It rained today. I was sitting in my office and the rains came. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal but the heat has been oppressive here in Yadkinville, North Carolina of late. Some may laugh and say, “Oppressive? What was it, in the nineties?” To which I would reply, “Yes, but things are relative aren't they?” I know what really oppressive heat is. I lived for five years just six degrees north of the equator, in Nigeria, West Africa. It gets hot there (understatement). I remember when Harmattan was at its worse, not only was it hot, the dust got into everything – including one's nose and mouth, so when you heard the distant rumble of thunder and began to see a few flashes of lightning, you started to get excited. “Rain, rain, rain, rain, beautiful rain” sings the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They understand. When the rain starts in Africa you cannot help yourself, you have to go out into it. Four or five months without a drop of rain compels you to go out into it and you cannot resist. It feels like the rain is cleansing the whole earth, you along with it.
Isn't that how the grace of God is for the Christian? There are times when you feel so dusty and you want to just spread your arms wide and be drenched by the grace of God. And as a child of God He invites you to do just that, be drenched in His grace. No feeling is better than that and maybe that's why He gave us the rain – so we could understand.
Rain makes me happy. We've been getting it a lot lately here in NC, and I absolutely love it!
Posted by: Kim Sa | 08/31/2009 at 05:10 PM
Me too, I live just up the road from you just south of Mt Airy (Mayberry from Andy Griffith show). Went walking in the rain yesterday, then sent it your way.
Posted by: Lowell | 09/01/2009 at 07:02 AM