Rain

Some people get upset when they are rained on. They didn't expect it. They don't like it. It makes them look bad. They have places to go and people to meet and being wet somehow diminishes their appearance. I want to challenge you to walk outside in the rain with no specific destination in mind maybe just spin or dance but have one objective and that is to just get soaked.
Here at Emmanuel College it was pouring down rain and I decided to go get some coffee up at Jittery Joes and finish my homework. I had my destination and plan. I had my umbrella in hand, my rain jacket on, the book bag secure; I was all set. So I began to walk up the hill and I discovered that the umbrella was not blocking all the rain, in fact my legs and shorts were getting drenched. Nevertheless, I got to my destination. I went to open up the door and it was closed. I then thought of the next cozy place to finish my homework. I was sad that I missed out on my coffee but at this point I just wanted to find cover. Lion’s den was the place that came to mind. I took off for lion’s den. My shorts had taken the place of swim trunks as I scurried across wellons parking lot and over into lion’s den. I made it! As I began to unpack my belongings I realized I had left my ipod in my room. This normally wouldn’t bother me but there was a football game being watched and I could not focus on my homework. I left my bag in Lion’s den popped open my black umbrella and headed to my room. I was laughing at how ridiculous I felt. I got to my room and picked up my ipod. Before I headed back to Lion’s den I went to my playlist and selected the song, “rain drops keep falling on my head” by B.J Thomas. Now I was set. I walked slowly enjoying the rain and splashed in the puddles till my song was over.
Somehow, I think God calls us to a life of rain walking. Not literally but consider the mentality and willingness of walking in the rain. We might look foolish but our focus isn’t on our appearance. We might be uncomfortable but that’s only until we go all in and get all wet. When we hold back and try to block the rain that’s when we get annoyed. Letting go and getting soaked frees us. We try to prevent the rain from getting on us, avoiding the puddles; buying the umbrellas. What if we can live a silent life of trust in God? Not necessarily knowing the end to the journey but enjoying the place we are at. I prayed this prayer after my experience:
“God, I know I’m getting wet. I don’t like it but help me enjoy it.”
God wants us to get so wet in Him that we no longer care about our destination. If you can’t enjoy the rain how can you ever enjoy the God who created it? He is as playful, and as innocent as a child; wanting you to stop, put the umbrella down, and spin around and around in the rain. We are called to get lost in Him. Let yourself enjoy his love and peace because it is there for you. I just think we have big ponchos on, huge umbrellas, and our entire body is covered because we are afraid of getting wet. Won’t you just let go? We get caught up in the appearance, the uncomfortable situation, that we lose sight of the true objective. The kingdom of God is likened unto a child. If you aren’t enjoying God and you claim to be His, what will make the heathen want to join this love rain walk too? You want dry Christianity, to make it pleasing to the sinner but it is only when we are immersed in God will the umbrella-walkers ever want it as well. Only when we love these dry-people will they ever be willing to let go of their layers and get a taste of the rain. It’s uncomfortable at first but teach them how to go all in. We can’t teach them if we haven’t first experienced it! I encourage you. Get lost in the rain. Get saturated in the presence of God and don’t hold anything back because you need to get completely wet. Rain drops keep falling on my head.