"God made the earth and established the world by wisdom, through understanding stretched out the heavens. At the voice of God there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and the mists rise from the ends of the earth. God makes lightnings for the rain and brings the wind out of the storehouses." Jeremiah 51:15-16
Rain….water from the heavens…lightning…tremendous thunder. That’s what we experienced here last night. After a long summer’s drought, the skies opened and rain came down…so powerfully that the earth could not absorb it fast enough. The winds tore through tree limbs sending them shattering to the streets. And all around, thunder moved in what seemed like a circular motion around the horizon, in an eery, deafening noise. The lightning caused the same brilliance of fireworks that fills the skies after the end of a 4th of July celebration. It was cause for celebration on many levels.
The drought has been with us all summer and this one rain will not save the crops, and the fields and farmers that have suffered. As they go about reordering their lives from lack of rain, many of us that live in the city feel a small relief that our flower gardens are watered, a luxury really in the big picture. The lack of rain will affect the vegetables that come to our table but not the future of our livelihood, the future of our children’s dreams, even our home. But those who are tied inextricably to the earth know the deep connection of rain and sun and the power of too much and too little.
As I listened to the thunder last night, safe in my living room, relaxing on the the couch, I thought of the things we often say to children when they are frightened by the sound of thunder. "Oh, listen, God is bowling." "Someone just upset an apple cart in heaven." These sayings serve to divert the attention of the frightened by sending their imagination spinning. "Bowling….does God wear bowling shoes? What size?……Do they eat apples in heaven? What about ice cream?" As the imagination reels, the fear dissipates. What a gift!
These little tricks we play to keep our mind off those times when we are feeling vulnerable, particularly human, out of control, will continue as long as there are people to tell stories, people who need comfort, as long as the imagination flourishes. The scriptures are filled with stories that attempt to explain the unexplainable, written by our ancestors as they sought to describe in story and image how the Holy moved through their landscape, their lives.
Today I am filled with gratitude for soaking rain…for at least a momentary relief….for imagination, for story, for the comfort they all bring.