The Rains of Spring

Yesterday the were several thunderstorms which passed the area.  I was leading a group of women in a bible study about "Boundaries" as the rain came down in pellets so big the sound was making it difficult to talk.  So, we stopped for a moment.  The trees were blowing pink petals against the windows and a cool breeze was flapping the blinds in the window.  As quick as it started it ended.

Outside the air smelled fresh, like spring.  Not like the summer which pulls down the smell of pollution, but fresh like a breeze off the ocean....40 miles from the beach.

Ah, wouldn't it be wonderful if the rains could cleanse us like it does the earth?  Instead we hold on to all that life sticks to us, clinging like grime under a fingernail.

Truth be told, I LOVE thunderstorms.  The power, the cleansing.  It is symbolic for me.  As a child we are told the old tale of "angels bowling", or maybe that is a New England thing.  In trying to comfort, we create an illusion that is non threatening.  In our young spirits we hope that it is angels (who mean us no harm).

Life is like a thunderstorm.  We go through times where we are tossed and thrown, when we cannot get our footing.  After the storm there is something to treasure.  We've experienced the fear and now we see on the other side there is hope.