Rain

I will be the first to admit that I really don't like rain. It messes up my hair, my dog doesn't want to go outside and driving becomes a challenge. Rainy days are usually dark, damp (different than wet) and gloomy. Rainy days are best suited to some nice hot coffee, a blankie and a good movie - in my opinion. Sure, there are those infrequent summer rains where the sun is shining during the rain, and then the rainbow comes. But I'm thinking about the fall rain, like the one we just experienced last weekend.

Here on the east coast, we have endured a very long drought. Water basins are receding, grass is turning brown, and the trees aren't quite as vibrant in their fall display as they can be. Then last Thursday it started to rain. We needed the rain so badly. And it rained Friday. All day. All night. This was a long, tempestuous, raging, soaking rain. There were brief moments of showers, but mostly...it rained.

I was in a van with 14 other people, along with 3 other vans and several cars, all heading to a camp in North Carolina for our annual youth fall retreat. So much planning and prayer went into this weekend - why, of all weekends, did it have to rain? Rain meant outside activities might be cancelled, and the students would get cranky, and the clothes and bedding would get wet and muddy. Rain meant the drive would take longer. Rain made for a cloudy, dreary and cold weekend outlook.

We all arrived safely and by 7pm, we were eating dinner. Then we unloaded all the gear - yes, some of it got wet and muddy, but most of it survived the trek to our boxcars where we made our beds and got ready for the evening activity -- a scavenger hunt. In the dark. In the misty rain. But what fun we had...no one thought about how wet it was. Several students just kicked off their shoes, content to be barefoot in the large soccer field hunting tiny red plastic firemen, rubber chickens and the elusive small black checker piece.

Then we headed to the Crossing, our meeting place for the weekend, where we experienced the first worship service of the retreat - our introduction to what God had in store for us that weekend. Hot cider and warm nachos followed and no one thought of the rain. It was simply a beautiful rhythym accompanying the chatter of 70 students and leaders. The gym opened for late night basketball, ping pong and other activities. It was a little bit of a walk - in the mist and light rain. My hair was a mess of curls and frizz, but it didn't matter. The gym was alive with energy, intensity and laughter. The leaders took the students to task on the basketball court, while others just enjoyed hanging out with their friends - content to just be there.

As i went back to my boxcar to settle in around 12:30 am, I thought about the rain and how I usually respond to it, which is to crawl inside and wait for it to subside. That has changed. This rain became a spiritual statement to me from my Creator - He was bringing the rain of his presence to this place - soaking the ground, the trees, and every pine needle and bench we would walk or sit upon. He was pouring out the foundation for our weekend - His Holy Spirit. Suddenly, this rain became alive. It breathed life everywhere.

All through the night, I heard the rain - steady and soaking. The next morning, there was no more rain - instead, there was sunshine. It shone all that day and into the next. It was a glorious day that we welcomed with energy and open hearts. Our students experienced a retreat weekend they will not soon forget. As we closed our Saturday night service, we returned back to God the worship He so deserved, thankful for everything He is. He rained down on us so that we could know Him more and walk closer with Him. I don't think I will look at rain the same again.