I stood in the cool rain,and lifted
my hands and face to the sky. Some years ago, while
doing the same thing I was asked, if I was born
in California. Apparently, the person questioning
me had seen other native Californians doing the
same thing. That's what you do, when it seldom rains
in your home town - stand in the rain, and let it
fall gently on your face.
The feeling of gentle, cool rain
falling on my face is refreshing during these increasingly
hot, and humid days of summer. The smell of the
clean air which has been purified by the falling
rain smells like no other air. God seems to give
the earth a bath, and leave it refreshed. During
these childlike moments of standing in the rain,
I am reminded of the connection between cleanliness
and refreshment, and I am thankful for the fact
that there is refreshing for my soul, as much as
for my body.
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord...." These words from the Bible, speak of the
refreshing which comes by means of the cleanliness
of the soul.
Just as it is refreshing to let
the cool summer rains gently fall upon my face,
so it is refreshing to my heart to allow the gentle
rains of forgiveness to flow over my soul.
Learning to keep short accounts
with others helps maintain refreshment for my soul.
Grudges and vindictiveness muddy the condition of
my heart, and create tensions which keep me from
living in emotional ease. Insensitivity and offensive
behavior toward others also create these tensions.
Just as I have a need to keep short
accounts with other people, I have likewise believed
that I had a need to keep short accounts with God
as well. My understanding of a relationship with
God is not unlike a relationship with another person.
It is filled with intimacy, communication, and a
sense of working together. Just as I understand
that there are things which the people around me
like, and do not like; so I believe that there must
be things which God likes, and does not like. No
doubt, I am bound to perform some of His dislikes.
It is at those points in which I am thankful for
the reminder in the summer rain.
Next time a gentle summer rain falls,
take a moment to turn your face to the sky. Feel
the cool refreshing cleanse your face, and remember,
the same God Who brings refreshing to the earth,
brings refreshing to your soul through His cleansing
forgiveness.
