Rain, Rain – Go Away

Today I rode along with husband from Renton to Arlington – a good hour north from where we live. Usually this is a pleasant and pretty uneventful trip. Usually, that is – except when it rains. No matter how long I live in the Pacific Northwest, I will never get used to driving in rain. Even riding along shotgun while someone else less afraid than me is driving, I still tense up and don't enjoy the ride. Every time we have a distance to drive it is raining – and not just raining a little – the skies open up and it pours. If you haven't heard, Seattle lately has been having HUGE storms, winds and rains breaking all records for this area. And the rain continues…

Someone on my facebook page this morning was commenting to no one how it rains in Seattle all the time and would you people please learn how to drive in it! Case and point – along our travels today we came upon an accident – a truck completely overturned on the side of the freeway. Why you ask? Because he was probably going to fast and lost control and went into a spin, landing him in a ditch and then rolled upside down on the side of the road. And with all the water on the road – it's no wonder. HUGE semi trucks passing small vehicles splashing ALL THEIR WATER on those poor cars. This is something I DO NOT LOOK FORWARD TO when out in the rain. It's amazing there are not more accidents. People clearly DO NOT know how to drive in rain. We drove in the lane next to a young guy driving a jeep – who was swerving and weaving all over the road – scary stuff if you are in the carpool lane and have no escape from crazy drivers!

I get it. Seattle is green and beautiful becauses of all this rain. Other places have great weather year round but cannot boast of the scenery here. However, too much of the stuff is just plain miserable. Our dogs have been inside for days only venturing outside to do their business, (and in a BIG HURRY too) the air pressure because of the moisture is INSANE and the grey skies are really starting to get to me. I've had a headache of varying levels for DAYS. I'm starting to feel like my head will eventually just explode and then that will fix everything. At least if the rain continues – I will have no more headaches!

We could all do with a break from this. I sit in Starbucks while Greg has a funeral – and I look around me at people who seem to be dark and gloomy – just like the weather outside. Everything would be different if the rain stopped and the sun would peak out. I know it. Something about that vitamin D that lifts the spirits and brings a smile to each face. But for now we just muddle through, writing, reading or sitting staring off into space.

This month we are leaving the rainy and grey skies side of the state and heading east of the mountains to Union Gap in Central Washington where we will be property managers. I'm told there are 4 seasons there, it's drier (yeah for my allergies) and LOTS of sunshine. I can deal with that. Cold and snow in the winter with SUNSHINE? I can handle that. HOT summers with no humidity? I can take that. It's a trade off I'm willing to try. We may hate it – but on the other hand – we may really like it.

I will be sending sunshine and lots of love to all of you staying in the rain. After I dry out – that is 🙂 I know we will all appreciate being able to get out and not get soaked – enjoy a good long walk with the pups every day and not worry about tracking in muddy feet.

Stay dry, stay away from crazy drivers and God Bless

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A Cure For The Doldrums

This last week I have seen and felt the change in the weather.  No more crisp, sunny days.  But a constant dripping.  Wetness everywhere.  Darkness has come in the early mornings and seems to stay most of the day.  I didn’t think it bothered me.  It never used to.  But sunshine does seem to affect my overall emotional climate.  I’m not sure why – but I know it does.

With this change I have felt a heaviness.  Not a depression per say – not even sadness – but something in between.  The doldrums.

I heard a wonderful message some time back on “giving back”.  Sharing gifts, talents, resources with others in need – and who may just need a little extra love and encouragement.  When we help others and give of ourselves – it does something in our spirit.

I have also noticed that when we “give” instead of holding tight to “what we should get” – there is a release and a lightness of spirit.  Letting go of something we feel someone owes us – and being the bigger person by saying, “My fault” or “I’m sorry – I take full responsibility” is liberating.

This happened to me just this last week.  Even when I know I’m in the right – it does not free my spirit when the other person is held hostage by my insistence.  So – I just let it go.  And freed them.  And me.  And don’t have that weight of “rightness” anymore.  It feels great – even if it’s still raining outside.

And I turned on inspiring Christmas music – all the ‘feel good’ stuff that puts a smile on my face – no matter what.  Fond memories of crackling fires, hot cocoa and snuggling while watching a favorite movie.

A clear conscience and a light spirit – a sure cure for the doldrums.

Take care and God Bless

Surviving The Weather

Today I took an innocent road trip with Greg to Bremerton – about an hour and a half or so from where we live. It was raining a little when we left Renton – but as we headed south the rain really picked up.

Something you should know about me – I’m not comfortable driving in the rain. I have a car that sits very low to the ground and inhibits me from seeing well especially in rain. Larger trucks and semi’s have a way of passing me really quickly and then spewing all their water on my windshield – prohibiting me from seeing ANYTHING for a couple of seconds. This releases sheer panic in me.

I have much history driving in the rain. Anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest has to sink or swim (no pun intended) as the case most often is when living here. I remember many times driving on the freeway because of necessity either to get somewhere or to get home – usually in the rain – sometimes in the dark – sometimes both. Can you guess the other least favorite thing of mine? That’s right. Dark. Specifically driving in the dark.

So I try not to do either of these whenever I can avoid them.

But today I was riding shotgun and Greg was driving. As I get older I must be getting much more paranoid or something because it REALLY FREAKED ME OUT driving in the pouring rain beside semi’s and other enormous trucks all of them spewing water on our windshield. I know I wasn’t driving – but it still bothered me – and when the brake lights would come from vehicles ahead of us I would feel this rising panic. Greg is not afraid and drives aggressively which may be the reason for my concern. I am not an aggressive driver – especially in the rain and/or dark. I’m always just glad to finally get home. And I’m usually glad when someone else is doing the driving.

One time on the freeway when I was driving – I saw brake lights ahead and thought everyone was just slowing down – no big deal – but then I had to quickly SLAM ON MY BRAKES as the vehicles ahead were at a STAND STILL right in the middle of the freeway – no warning – NOTHING. It really freaked me out – and now every time I see brake lights on the freeway – I say to Greg, “how can you be sure they are just slowing down?” It really concerns me – especially at high speeds in the rain – and in the dark.

And though I know I will possibly always feels this way and never be comfortable on the freeway with less than perfect conditions – I know I must learn to trust others who have no fear – who have a flawless track record and have logged many hours and miles in dangerous conditions. I know there are others who have a handle on it – and I have nothing to fear. And though I can’t see it as being safe – knowing that others are confidant is HUGE.

I wonder if the Lord feels the same way I know my husband must when I’m in the car with him – and I’m really unhappy and untrusting. I wonder if He wonders why I don’t trust Him – when He sees the big picture of my life and can navigate from His great vantage point. He probably wonders why I just can’t relax – enjoy the ride and let Him get me to the places that He needs me to be – without me fussing and fighting Him.

The next time something is happening in your life that is scary or less than pleasant – try thinking of it this way: God is with you – He is in the driver’s seat. He will get you where you need to be. You are safe. It will be alright.

I am still learning this. Mine is a continual journey of trust.

God Bless

His Rain

Image via Wikipedia

Drops of rain

 

endless rain

 

pouring down

 

soaking everything

 

completely filling

 

every crack and crevice

 

plant and flower

 

with life-giving moisture

 

I watch as they drink it in

 

And I think about

 

the Father’s love

 

and grace

 

that is relentless

 

unending

 

pounding

 

and continuing

 

reminding me

 

that He is with me

 

compelling

 

dripping

 

saturating

 

surrounding me

 

with His unyielding motion

 

downward

 

in my direction

 

reflecting His promise

 

of devotion

 

and stubborn love

 

Like the relentless

 

rain

 

and like a thirsty flower

 

I drink it in

 

I pause and reflect

 

I allow it to fill me up

 

saturate and penetrate

 

the dry areas

 

and am grateful

 

for His rain

Heaven’s Rain

Image by Krikit ♥ via Flickr

Tonight, Greg and I watched the incredible true story as told on ‘Dateline’ about the horrific murders in October of 1979 of an Oklahoma Baptist pastor and his wife – while their two teenage children watched and amazingly – although wounded themselves – survived.

It is incredible and heart wrenching.  It is also a story of forgiveness. Some 15 years after the murders – the older of the two children, Brooks Douglass faced the  man who had shot his parents, serving life in prison at the time.  As he told the story on Dateline – he was very emotional when he told this part of the story.  He said he made a decision to forgive the man.  When he did – something inside of him broke – and all the years of pent-up anger and emotion – were released.  All because of being willing to forgive.  He did it for his parents, his sister – but mostly he did it for him.

It is powerful.  Raw and Gritty.  And I was amazed at his courage – and the courage of his young teenage sister who repeatedly had to testify in court over the next 15 years to have the men put away for good.

Brooks eventually ran for Oklahoma senate – and won – passing a bill that would usher in new ‘victim’s rights’.  And he began to write his story – and  eventually wrote the screen play for the movie of these events called ‘Heaven’s Rain’ – due to come out in February.

The subject of forgiveness is a difficult one.  Especially when we have been wronged.  I have a difficult time with it – and I have never had anything so hideous done to me personally or any of my family members.  But it doesn’t matter.  If we withhold forgiveness from another person who has wronged us – it is like poison and will eat us up inside.  The bible says to ‘forgive’ – not for them – but for us.  And showing mercy and grace to others is so necessary for our own personal healing – that’s why there is so much emphasis on this in scripture.

I encourage you to watch the special about this amazing true story as told on Dateline.

Below is the movie trailer in which Brooks – now in his 40’s plays the role of his father.  Very moving.

God Bless

Rain

Ran across this artist today while researching a song from American Idol last night.  Her name is Patty Griffin.  I had not heard of her before – and it’s a shame because so far everything I’m pulling up from her – I am loving.  She wrote the song that Crystal Bowersox sang last night “Up on a mountain” which is a tribute to Martin Luther King and I will post it tomorrow.  The following  song about ‘rain’ seemed appropriate for many reasons today and I find Patty’s voice and guitar very haunting and beautiful.  Hope you enjoy it!

It’s hard to listen to a hard hard heart
Beating close to mine
Pounding up against the stone and steel
Walls that I won’t climb
Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep
You think that you’re gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep
With all this rain falling down

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I’m holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

Its hard to know when to give up the fight
Two things you want will just never be right
Its never rained like it has to night before
Now I don’t wanna beg you baby
For something maybe you could never give
I’m not looking for the rest of your life
I just want another chance to live

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I’m holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I’m holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I’m still alive underneath this shroud
Rain Rain Rain

Remember When It Rained

This seemed fitting today somehow.  Enjoy!

Wash away the thoughts inside
That keep my mind away from you.
No more love and no more pride
And thoughts are all I have to do.

Ohhhhhh Remember when it rained.
Felt the ground and looked up high
And called your name.
Ohhhhhh Remember when it rained.
In the darkness I remain.

Tears of hope run down my skin.
Tears for you that will not dry.
They magnify the one within
And let the outside slowly die.

Ohhhhhh Remember when it rained.
I felt the ground and looked up high
And called your name.
Ohhhhhh Remember when it rained.
In the water I remain
Running down
Running down
Running down
Running down
Running down
Running down
Running down