“Let God lead!” ~ Psalm
118:8
Carrie ran every morning. She used the time to plan; to frame the
upcoming day’s strategies. Every event
had a purpose - she left almost nothing to chance.
The roar of thunder on this spring morning sent a swallow
cutting through the air like a surgeon’s scalpel. As the skies darkened and the wind
strengthened, Carrie picked up her pace hoping to avoid the inevitable
downpour. She hadn’t planned for
this. It was going to be a wet run!
The street was canopied with majestic oak trees, like the
ones you see on plantation roads. A drop
here, a drop there. Soon it rained cats
and dogs, and a few frogs too! The skies
grew sharp and brilliant; she dared not stay under the tree’s cover for fear of
being struck by lightning.
Then the clouds burst; a gentle rain turned torrential.
A stranger motioned Carrie to his porch. She’d
seen him before; kinda cute. Gorgeous
really! She thought maybe he’d said
hello one day but dismissed it as wishful thinking on her part. Out of breath and soaked to the skin, Carrie
climbed his steps two at a time.
“Are you crazy?” he asked in a charming sort of way.
“Probably a little,” she replied flirtatiously. “It’s just that I love to run, especially in
the rain!”
He looked at her quizzically, inviting further explanation.
“My younger brother died years ago,” she began. I often feel his presence when the rain
falls. Sometimes I can’t help but cry.”
“Why’s that?” he questioned.
“Why does rain make you cry?”
“Oh, it’s not the rain!” Carrie continued. “The rain frightened him. I calmed him by explaining that it was just
God watering His plants. When the wind
blew down limbs and leaves, it was God’s way of pruning His trees.” An awkward pause followed.
“Thanks for sharing your porch,” she offered. Sensing her discomfort, he invited her in
for hot tea. They made small talk. Then Carrie started for home surrendering her
cell number and the hope of a future date.
Tonight, as thunder rumbled in the distance, she reflected back
on that fateful day nearly 2 years ago. After
spending countless nights in bars and night clubs fitted in red-carpet-style
(edgy) outfits decorated with perfect hair and nails, she’ll marry the man she
met that rainy day wearing sweat pants and a T-shirt. She smiled into the mirror, “God must have a
great sense of humor!”
Love is an incredible thing, the kind of gift that puts
purpose in your life and happiness in your heart. It isn’t found on the internet – it simply
happens, and often when least expected.
But God’s love is always present and free for the asking . . .
unconditional, indestructible, eternal.
Lord, Your love for us is so
overwhelming it can take our breath away, so forgiving it can make us weep
uncontrollably. Sometimes I deny it, fight
it or try to ignore it. Help me to
understand that I will always be incomplete without it. Amen
