“Rainbows remind us of the covenant between God and all living creatures." ~ Genesis 9:16
Victoria gazed out her window to dark,
maniacal clouds. The pitter-patter
against her window meant only one thing.
Rain stirred something deep within her; sharing its bountiful life force
and cleansing her soul.
She jumped into Ferrosi capris, a light jacket and flip
flops (a rain-washed path seems to invite playful feet). She ran from her building sans cash,
cellphone or even an umbrella.
The rain came steady and soft,
falling from a sky of white velvet. Suddenly
the rocks became more brilliant, the flowers more vibrant, the hillside more
lovely.
There was something magical about walking on a rainy
day. Because fewer people go out in the
rain it gave her a better sense of space for her thoughts and emotions to run
wild. She’d have the woods, the beach,
or the sidewalk to herself. Alone with
her thoughts, raindrops became her meditation; peaceful, present, and maybe
slightly rebellious. Rainy days were the
best!
Taking a walk in the rain helped ease her mind to give up
control and go about life, no matter what the weather, or anything else, tossed
her way. Just like with a rain shower,
everything has its moment and will eventually pass.
It also helped Victoria see things from a different
perspective: whether it was the dimmer light, the gloomy mood, or the
reflection of streetlights in puddles, almost everything looked different on
rainy days.
Scientific studies indicate that the fresh smell after the
rain comes from the oils of plants mixing with the ozone and the good bacteria
from the soil. It calms and relaxes the
mind, which is why she felt so refreshed after breathing in the clean air that
followed a good rain. Plus, rain water
is alkaline, and contains no minerals making it ideal for Victoria’s hair and
skin.
She stopped to enjoy the sheer joy of some street children soaked
to the skin, playing in the rain. They
stomped, danced and giggled as if the normal pressures of life were absent for
the moment. Anyone who says you can’t
bottle love has never experienced the intoxicating laughter of an excited child
splashing in muddy puddles.
Everything seemed right with the world.
Victoria returned home but not before a rainbow arced across
the sky in colors that sparked a glow that stayed within. She took a warm shower, donned flannel pajamas,
prepared a cup of hot tea and cozied up with a good book. The perfect day indeed, one for which she was
eternally grateful to the amazing One who provided it.
