Bring on the rain, the clouds and the blues

INTO OUR LIVES, A LITTLE RAIN WILL FALL

I sigh when I first hear the pitter patter of the sounds of rain droplets tap dancing on the roof of my car, but the noise acts as a cue for my emotions and I divert into a positive state of mind. Once I understood rain, I learnedto appreciate it. Rain is not an unwelcome visitor, intent on squelching out plans for a picnic, or a day at the beach, or even a good attitude; it reminds me that I am not alone. Rain clothes the earth in refreshment and nourishment, misting the grass, painting the leaves on the trees with a translucent residue and giving off a distinct and fragrant bouquet.

Inside every droplet of rain, energy is building, and like a time bomb, it tumbles from the sky, exploding on impact, dispersing among the billions of drops each rainfall brings forth. Occasionally, rain bursts from the mouth of a broken drainpipe that clings to the corner of a house. The drainpipe amplifies the downpour, enhancing the sound of the droplets from mild to menacing. Seeing rain fall sketches my mind with images of umbrellas, cooler temperatures and guilt-free afternoons spent indoors with no anxieties or obligations to a warm, sunny day.

Appreciating the rain is similar to growing in wisdom. Rain can be characterized as mature sunlight reflecting her beauty from the inside out. Rain nurtures us like a baby chick gathered under its mother's wings and soothes our false securities. Preceded by the rumble of thunder and the crackle of lightning, rain emerges with sincerity, from inside the clouds and makes a bold statement. And when rain falls, I listen; there is nothing I can do to suspend the outpouring of liquid emotions.

I embraced the rain in all its beauty, as the person who is thought a fool when they stand in the rain, fully-clothed, welcoming a downpour with open arms, singing. I spend time with rain, much like the couple who stroll under the cover of an umbrella while laughing and holding hands.

Even though rain is romantic and comforting, rain also takes on a mysterious and frustrating tone as well. The length of time of her visit is unknown. It could be here for a few minutes in the form of a brief, but intense downpour or continue for hours, overstaying its welcome like a door to door salesman; or like a flood it can be almost vindictive, extracting revenge on us in a constant surge of free-flowing water, flushing away all living things. When droplets touch down, a single drop of rain is a speck that is insignificant and overlooked. But, when these drops of rain converge the soil and the landscape remain forever affected.

Rain walks side by side with us through human inadequecies, enduring through trial, disappointment and challenge. Inside us, a skewed part of our being remains tucked away, until the rain comes calling. A shower of rain is a jolt into reality. That I would attempt to resist the rain reveals my need to allow it to run its course.

Upon rain, I place my expectations. Not too much and not too little, always expecting the perfect measure. In spite of its bad timing and irritating mannerisms, falling on even the most beautiful of days and from the bluest of skies. Rain's voice can be loud and volatile; but it is also soft, sensitive and comforting possessing a rhythm and eloquence that revives the body and refreshes the spirit.