When it “Rains on Our . . .”

Hello TSJ Peeps,

For many of you this is a happy time of year.  A happy time that is mixed with sadness. There are those  good byes to the teachers your children love, the bitter/sweet tears of seeing your oldest graduate from high school or college etc.  On the flip side, it is also tough for teachers whose classrooms have been filled with faces they learn to read and hearts they have held and lives they have grown to love.

And sometimes in this process the earth itself speaks for us.  Dark storm clouds warn us we may have to dodge some rain.

Sometimes it rains in life’s pastures.  And we all know rain is usually good for the pasture. But we do not want the storms to rain on our “parades” (celebrations). Seriously, does it have to rain now?

Apparently so.  Even though the . . . (graduation ceremony, parade, picnic, party etc.)  is about to begin.

I cannot write about anything else this morning. Solomon is gently nudging me to be what he says we peeps call “transparent” but he believes it is simple honesty that all of us can and would do well to share so we can help each other.

He has reminded Tom and me repeatedly lately,  “Yes, you can walk in the dark.”

Sometimes the storms do more than just rain.  They can even cause power failures for a bit, removing your normal light. But the human brain is marvelous.  You can find your way to the bathroom in the dark.  Especially if you have been there before. You can find your way around the house because your brain has seen and registered it repeatedly. 

And the human soul is similar. The more familiar we are with the unseen but very real spiritual territory the more we can find our way in times of spiritual shadows or darkness. Our soul has a built in generator that can provide enough light to take just one step at a time . . . because that is all we really need.  Solomon says our Divine Shepherd is that generator and all we have to do is tap into our Source.  This morning, Tom and I are digging deep into the soul’s resources. 

Last evening our children and I reveled in a beautiful retirement party given for Tom.  The speeches were moving.  The things said about him made our children’s faces literally glow with pride. We all agreed with those talks, the serious and the funny.  Tom is known for humor and integrity, responsibility and flexibility,  patience and honesty. He is loyal and intolerant of things that hurt the company and his colleagues.  All good stuff.

And many of the people did not know the one thing that was sitting in our throats.  A lump.  A big lump.   But no, we did not cry.  We all “held it together.”

Interestingly, when we walked into the building we were able to “beat the rain.”  The sky looked like the above picture.  While we were around the snack table the sky opened up and poured.  We were inside and dry.  It passed over and the sun came out.  Just in time for the speeches and let us all get to our cars on the way home. It seemed like an outward expression of our inward states of being.

But the lump.  Tom is retiring because he is battling an aggressive cancer that is robbing him of normal strength.  Tom loves his job.  Retirement is often a time of grief  (as is most any change),  but retiring to take on the battle of his life?  Lump.  He has about five more work days left and he will take them seriously.  That is just like Tom.

Storms.  Dark skies. They do pass. An awareness that the storms pass and that we all can walk in the dark is helpful.  Still, in the dark we have to walk more slowly, more carefully, more thoughtfully, and usually we put our hands out to make sure we are not bumping into something or miss a step.

Rain.  Tears. They can flow heartily.  Tears, like rain, are necessary. They wash the window of our soul. They mean the Spirit of God is on the move, just as much as in our laughter.

Sun?  Yes, it comes out and brings light, warmth, hope, playfulness, new energy.  We see that too.  Tonight we will celebrate our grandson’s high school graduation!  No sad lumps.  Lots of joy and hope.

There is a season for everything, Life flows. Thank you, God.

Solomon says, “Remember, peeps. It is a shared journey!  When we cannot dodge the rain, we can share our umbrellas.”