Go Out and Dance in the Rain!

For days after the horrible heat wave we were all eagerly watching the radar, praying for a few drops from the heavens to soothe our hot, weary souls.  We would hear of storms nearby and sometimes just gentle showers, but nothing here.  We consoled each other by saying "at least it has cooled down."  A good thing, yes, but just not the same.  Yesterday the storms came close.  We all had the radar up on our computers speculating on each tiny little change, but each time the little green splotch that held our fascination would fizzle out.  Then finally, around 10:30 pm, it rained.  I was out the door as soon as it hit the concrete, dancing in praise of this gift from the Goddess. A few neighbors watched, but no one would join me.  As much as everyone had prayed for the rain, it seems that nearly everyone was afraid of getting even a drop of it on their clothes and worried it would make their hair frizz.  People pray for this gift then treat it like a curse, not the remarkable blessing it is!

Just before I sat down to write this, I returned from a delightful walk to the mailbox.  The skies had darkened.  Thunder was ringing through the air and lightning was racing across the sky.  Again, my neighbors were running inside.  As for me?  I decided it was time to go outside.  When better to go for a walk than the amazing time just before a storm!

So the question is, why do people fear nature so much?  True, there are extremes such as tornadoes and floods we must be wary of, but those are called extremes for a reason.  Most of the time, nature is an amazing miracle.  Since we're talking about the rain, let's really think about what a miracle it truly is.  True, most of our planet is covered in water, but fresh water is becoming so scarce.  This is what gives life to all plants and animals.  It shapes our land.  Without it, nothing could survive.  My family are farmers.  They raised me to understand and appreciate just what a blessing the rain is.  Without the rain, there would be no crops, no food for us.  No animals in the wild.  Nothing.  The rain is a true miracle, each and every time it falls.

When you get down to it, there are miracles around us every single day.  We are just so used to them, that often they are taken for granted.  The sun shining down, the wind whispering through the tress, the birds and butterflies, the deer and squirrels, the fish and frogs.  All creatues are miracles, just as every bit of weather is a miracle.  The fact that we exist at all is a miracle.  Just think how truly amazing it is that everything came together perfectly on this little speck of dust floating though the universe so that we may have life.

And so, as you go though your day, take the time to notice all of these little miracles as they appear around you.  Appreciate the amazing series of events that made each one possible.  And the next time it rains, go out and dance!