“Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the Earth; without rain there would be no life.” ~ John Updike

It started with a crack of lightning, a great roar of thunder, and then a deluge of rain that went on for over a day. At first, we might think of the rain as restrictive and have to cancel plans, but waiting out the rain can also be redemptive. Having to wait out the rain causes us to slow down and can add a calm to our daily endeavors. It provides an atmosphere of contemplation for quieter activities such as reading or writing. The sounds of rain can be soothing with its various rhythms, such as hearing it trickle down the rain gutter. It can also be calming and cooling and invite us to curl up with a favorite blanket. The different smells of rain can awaken our senses, such as rain on fresh cut grass, or steaming off of hot pavement. Waiting out rainy days often forces us to pay attention to the present moment and enjoy the time-out from the hurried world outside.

On the other hand, a rainy day can offer some much needed fun. I am reminded of a time when my kids were little and it had been raining all day while we were at work and school and on our drive home they seemed a little out of sorts. So, as we pulled into our driveway, I told them to leave their bags in the car and suggested we go play in the rain. We jumped in the puddles and danced around laughing like fools. Then, we all went inside, took nice hot showers, and settled down with steaming cups of hot chocolate. It is one of my most cherished memories.

So, take your pick the time a rainy day comes your way.

until next time…