How many of you ran to your windows this morning, cranked them open, and listened to the rain?!?
For some of us, we had to wait a bit, but then it came...a beautiful, gentle PNW Autumn rain. And if you listened carefully you could hear, through the soft putter patter, all the trees of our forest clapping their hands!
I never thought I'd say it out here in the PNW, but I'm shouting it from the mountaintops today: "God, it's great when it rains!" I shout that line not only because the soul deep in my bones is feeling it, but also because it's one of my favorite songs! Written by one of my favorite artists, a North Dakota farmer named Chuck Suchy! (Here is the link to the song) https://www.google.com/search?q=chuck+suchy+god+its+great+when+it+rains&client=safari&hl=en-us&ei=4N
My favorite line from this song is "God, it's great when it rains, roll my pant to my knees, don't worry about stains, feel the mud my toes squeeze. God, it's great when it rains, worms all over the place, no ketchup just plain, Robin stuffing her face!"
We might write and sing it a bit differently out here in the PNW, but believe me, we can hardly resist going out into that rain today and feeling that mud ooze between our toes and filling our lungs with clean, smoke-free air!
For those who may not know it, the PNW and particularly the Seattle area, has been suffocating under a ring of smoke caused by several forest fires in the area. Usually these fires are put out by early Autumn rains, but this year the rains were late, and because of that we have felt like we are stuck in a Marry Poppins musical.
skipping from roof to roof with Dick Van Dyke as we sweep out chimneys all day! But now the rain and hopefully with it...no more fires, and no more smoke!
Living in this smoke and its caustic effects, has caused me to ponder just how difficult it is to live in these politically and spiritually "smoky" times. It's exhausting. Sometimes I get done reading the evening news (I no longer watch it) and I literally have a hard time breathing it all in. Just like this smoke, the political environment we are in permeates ever fiber of my clothing, and threatens to permeate my skin, and inner airways, and if I'm not careful...my very soul!
That's why it's so important for us right now to do "soul" work. Doubling down on our breath prayers, listening through the smoke for God's living stream, permeating our hearts with songs of deliverance, worshipping with those who are trying to drink from the well of living water...these are all not just matters of soul care, they are matters of survival!
This week our staff took some time to gather at another holy space for an Advent retreat. Our goal was to take 3 hours away in order to take a deep look at the upcoming Advent season. I entered that morning finding it hard to breathe, but by the end of the retreat, I felt as if I had been gently showered with the grace of God! God's Grace had reached all the way to my toes!
May each of us enjoy today's rain, and learn to find practices that give our souls a chance to breathe, and out toes a chance to wiggle.
Your friend and pastor, barefoot in my back yard, soaking in the grace of our good God, Brook
Check out one more cool song. https://youtu.be/Kvh4KPQ0Z3U
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