An Afternoon Rain

 Late in the afternoon the much hoped for rain finally came.  A young neighbor boy who works with me on Wednesday afternoon and I were down in the pasture tearing down old fencing when it started.  We were too far from the truck to run so we just got our tools together and leisurely walked in the rain to the truck.  It was one of the best parts of the day.  How often do we walk in the rain?  Most of the time we unleash leftover memories of being young and run for cover, but not today.  We walked.  We got wet.  And, I would not trade the moment for a hundred days of sunshine.   

As we get older we lose sight of what it is like to enjoy the things enjoyed as uninhibited fun seeking children.  We become too preoccupied with doing the adult things like opening umbrellas, or putting something over our head, or acting grown up.  Actually, there is nothing wrong with walking slowly in the rain.  It has a soul cleansing effect.  You might even say it is like a baptism that gets us cleansed of some of that adult thinking that is narrow and confining.    

I often think of the way Jesus called disciples to be like children.  Most likely He had more in mind than playing in the rain, but then again maybe not.  Maybe we reach these adult years thinking that we are more important than we really are and that life is more complicated than it really is.  If there is anyone we can trust when it comes to figuring out how to live, it is surely Jesus.  I can remember being a child.  And, I am grateful that God looks at us as His children and takes joy in our moments when we are able to experience blessings simply by doing something like walking slowly in an afternoon rain.