Raining on me

'It is June, isn't it?'  That was the question that was running through my head as the rain was running down the window of the car. (or rather bouncing off it!)  It was one of those occasions when you wondered if there was a faster speed for the wipers.  Rain evokes lots of different emotions in people.  Today, I was frustrated that it was limiting my vision.  I wasn't able to see clearly what was ahead and adjusted my speed to more carefully assess my surroundings.  I gazed more intently ahead to watch out for potential obstacles and to discern the road. 

Today rain caused me to slow down and pay closer attention.  In my life there have been moments when it has rained on me.  These are times when I feel as if my vision is blurred.  I feel like I am looking through a rain drenched windscreen.

My natural drive is to plan, prepare and go!  Sometimes God wants me to slow down and play closer attention.  Rain might be frustrating to me when I am driving ahead but 'the rain' has sometimes been essential to assessing and adjusting my destination.

Rain is necessary for things to grow.  Look at what happens when there is a drought.  Life is not all about driving ahead regardless, it is about how we travel.

My oblation as a Benedictine remind me to slow down, to enjoy the journey to balance my time to include God in it all and pause to recollect my journey and listen for God's call.

Elijah discerned God in the still small voice:

1 Kings 19:11-13

21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

 ¹¹And He said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
    ¹²And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
    ¹³And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?"

After the rain there is a calm and after it rains we have an opportunity to listen for God who speaks in that stillness.  What is He saying?