So, we've been having non-stop rain and very strong winds for what seems like weeks... but, really it's just been two days. I've been bracing for the rain to come ever since August when Marc had already started to pray for rain. Yeah, I was so surprised by his plea for rain that I'm pretty sure I giggled slightly. My "Seattle-boy" doesn't do well with too many consecutive days of hot weather.
One interesting bit of information - Marc's childhood hometown (near Seattle) gets an annual rainfall average of 38 inches, while my childhood hometown (in California) gets an annual average rainfall of 36 inches. You can file that away in your "Random-who-cares?-facts" file in your brain.
Yesterday it was raining so hard, and I was sitting at my desk working on a paper for one of my classes. I paused for a while, turned off the computer, leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes, pulled my blanket up around my neck, and just listened to the sound of the rain on the skylight. It was so soothing and relaxing.
I was thinking through different common "rain" phrases. You know, like "when it rains, it pours," and "fix the roof while the sun shines," and "rain, rain go away..." Are there any I'm missing?
But, the one that has been on my mind the last few days is the "fix the roof while the sun shines" quote. I was thinking of a specific winter when the rains really came down and there was a weak area on our roof that was affected by the buckets of rain that year, causing a headache of a mess. It was just this one little spot, but it was quickly escalating to a bigger mess. (Just ask my Dad, I'm sure he'll confirm that since he was the one fixing it.)
In the midst of a terrible storm, it's very difficult to fix a roof problem. You can try to manage it by catching the leaky water dripping through, but other than that you will probably have to wait until the rain has stopped and you can climb up on the house and fix the leaky area. I don't really know from personal experience, but I can imagine that it wouldn't be very fun to fix a roof leak while rain is pouring down. Just a guess.
But, I couldn't help but think about how life is like that. You know, when life's storms come, it's harder to fix the problems within yourself when everything else is falling apart all around you. But, if while "the sun is shining" we are building up and preparing ourselves to get through the storms, then when those rains come down we'll make it through without as much difficulty.
Now, that's not to say that there won't be any damage or that storms are fun. Sometimes we may prepare and do everything we can to face life's storms, and they're just plain hard. And, I think that's okay. Storms are just sometimes rotten, but they are an important part of life. Isn't the sun so much more beautiful after a good, long rain? And, what about rainbows? We wouldn't be able to enjoy their beauty if we didn't have a little rain to mix with the sun.
As unenjoyable as they might be, storms do help us see things more clearly... calling our attention to problem areas that we've neglected to notice. We may not even know we have a leaky roof until a good, hard rain has fallen. And, while it's no fun to realize you have one more thing to add to the "to do" list, there is great peace of mind that comes from working towards repairing a problem area in your life and knowing you've done your part to be prepared for whatever comes next.
Whatever storms you may be experiencing or whatever storms may come your way, know this one thing - there is always an end. And, with that end will come a great calm. We will not be abandoned in those most crucial moments of life, when we need peace more than anything. We will be strengthened through those storms we just can't face on our own.
"...a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.... let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."
And just to share my more favorite "rain" quote:
"May the sun bring you new energies by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away any worries you may have. May gentle breezes refresh your soul and all the days of your life, may you walk gently through the world and know its beauty." —Unknown
11 comments:
You are such a good writer!
You really are an amazing writer! And you have such wonderful insight, I always look forward to your posts.
What a brilliant and wonderful post. I love how you articulate things and paint a picture with words. No wonder you and Calamity get along so well.
I saw this wonderful quote the other day - "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to be over; It is about learning how to dance in the rain." I keep it in my purse and read it when I need a little perspective.
Megan that was quite the post. I don't know how you put such thoughts down in the middle of the storm. I can only do it after, sometimes. So eloguent with your words. How did you paper turn out?
Kamie, B&B, Kelly, thanks for the nice compliments... sometimes I feel self-conscious about what I write, not sure if it's making any sense when it comes out of my jumbled thoughts.
Roxane, I love your quote! It's raining again today and I was stuck walking in it, so I jumped and stomped my way to my car... and it was quite fun! :)
Carly, still working on the paper... darn it! Can't wait for it to be done, as you can probably imagine. :)
Thanks for that Megan. Our birth mother rejected us yesterday...after four months of planning and hoping I feel like I'm dying inside. I KNOW you know how I feel - and that makes your inspiring post help me all the more. You need to write me *nudge*.
Amazing write-up! In our house, it's my wife who is always telling me to fix the kitchen roof. There's a small hole that needs to be fixed although we never experience any problem with it yet. On my part, I'm thinking on the best way to fix it knowing that our roof is so high. Getting a fall accident is something I really avoided especially that I'm not getting any younger. Well, the dilemma has been solved with the help of a friend. He told me about fall arrest lifeline service provider who could help me be safe in fixing our roof. The services include an amazing fall arrest roof anchors that's huge help in my task. Thanks for sharing the well-written post, Marc and Megan! I really enjoyed reading it.
I love every word. In life, we tend to procrastinate too often that, when the "rain" comes, all we can do is wait for it to stop. But then, when the sun is shining again, we tend to forget the need to "fix" what was wrong until we realize that we can't fix it until it stops raining again.
Rolf Matchen
Megan, I’m blown away by the insights you have here in your blog! It’s not merely fixing the roof that matters - it’s finding the cause of the leak on your roof, the solutions, and the person who will be there to help you with the repair. That’s how life is by nature. There may be problems, but solving them with a trustworthy companion will ease things up.
Lue Madson
I agree with Lue! Your insights about the rain, the sun shining, and the “fix” are very heartwarming! I guess, in life, we first have to determine the problem, find the solution for that, and fix it right away, at the right time. Like a leaking roof, you have to repair your roof as soon as possible or else it will do you more harm than good.
-Keaton Oakes
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