This has been a week of heavy rains. At times the rain has come down in sheets and nearly flooded our patio. We've have countless displays of lightning and booming thunder, and it's hailed twice in two days!When you grow up in Hawaii you get used to rain. I have fond memories of falling asleep to rain's rhythmic patter on our roof. Once, when we were living in Manoa, where it rains constantly, I was waiting at the bus stop when it began to rain heavily across the street. To my amazement and alarm, the raindrops kept coming closer and closer to me. I did not bring an umbrella, so I silently pleaded for the bus to come quickly. Thankfully, the bus arrived just in time. I jumped in and escaped getting drenched!My kids have enjoyed this week of rain. In between downpours, Daniel has relished going outside and doing a little jig. He also set up the rain gauge to measure how many inches we received. (It overflowed after 6 inches, but we lost track after that because we forgot to empty the gauge.) 
Jonathan asked yesterday if he could get a sample of rainwater. I asked why, and he said he wanted to look at it under the microscope to see if he could spot any protozoa. It turned out to be a fascinating experiment. No protozoa were found, but we did see two tiny worms! Yikes!Jonathan is also programming his robot to automatically calculate the distance of the storm. His robot will record when lightning strikes, note the time of the resulting thunder, and calculate how far away it is (4.6 seconds per mile). This is what geeks do for fun.Elizabeth loves the rain, too. It's a good excuse for her to make a cup of hot tea, curl up in a comforter, and dig into her stack of library books. I'm a bookworm like she is, so I've taken her cue.Rain draws me nearer to God. I feel safe indoors, sheltered by howling winds and the pounding water. This is how He protects me, too, in the storms of life. He wraps me in His loving arms and becomes my shelter, my place of refuge. Rain speaks of abundance, of God's provision. "Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy" (Psalm 68:9-10).
I love the freshness and clarity that rain brings. The air is cleared and the hills become bright green, beckoning birds and wildflowers. The smog is gone. I can breathe deeply again. Rain is just like God's Word, washing the cobwebs from my vision and restoring my focus.
Rain reminds me of God's love poured out for me. My heart, at times dull and hardened, becomes soft and pliable again. It remembers once again how to praise. I hold out my cup and it overflows with His promises. With rain comes rainbows.
This week, I'm singing in the rain.
"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25b-27
