Let It Rain (or Snow)

I am not any longer going to pray that the rain (or snow) stays away.  Not that God doesn’t listen to prayers about when I would like for it to rain, because God listens to every prayer.  It’s just that God knows more about the weather needs of the world than I do.  This is a big step for me, and it is much easier to write this in the middle of December than it will be to live it out in the middle of June when I have a big golf match planned and the forecast is for rain.  My practice has been, for years, to pray for sunshine during the day and rain at night because that is most convenient to my lifestyle.  But, from now on, God, let it rain. (And for those of you reading this in winter climates, you can add, “Let it snow.”)  It’s all a matter of perspective.  Is rain (or snow) good or bad, a blessing or a curse?  To the snow shoveling crowd, snow is no fun. To the snow-shoeing crowd it is the necessary ingredient to a great day outdoors.   To the golfer who went south for golf trip, rain is a real downer, but for the farmer there waiting for the drought to end, rain is answered prayer.  So, God, send your blessing, send your healing rain (or snow). This is my new prayer.

What made me think about all of this was watching Nelson Mandela’s memorial service.  Thousands gathered to hear world leaders honor the memory of one of the all-time greatest heroes of transforming reconciliation, and it was raining.  It was pouring down rain.  And the harder it rained, the louder the crowd cheered. Why? Well, didn’t you know that when it rains at someone’s funeral it is a sure sign that this person’s life was blessed by God to be a blessing? The thing about moisture from the sky is that it doesn’t discriminate.  And that is why it was so fitting that Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was drenched in rain.  Here was a man who lived a life imagining ways to bring healing to broken relationships.  And the great thing about doing social healing work is that the blessing is given to all who are touched by it, the friend and the foe, the good and the evil.  When Jesus says that the Father sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, his simple point is, love your friends and your enemies. (Matthew 5:43-47) God sends the rain (or snow) and the blessing it is abounds to all.  God sent his servant Nelson to bless one nation, and the world benefitted.

So today, why don’t you celebrate the rain (or snow) by raining down love and compassion?  Who do you know could use a little healing? Go. Call. Be the blessing rain.