It's been raining a lot lately here in the Queen City. I have to say, there are not many things quite as great as southern thunderstorms. I love the way the gray clouds roll in filling the sky, the leaves on the trees turn over so the lighter side is more visible, the air gets this wonderful smell, the breeze picks up and the impending doom of the storm to come can last for hours before the heavens finally break loose with their full fury.
A few days ago, one of these storms had been brewing all morning and afternoon. The sound of thunder was getting louder and more frequent and I could see lightning in the distance. I knew it would not be long before the storm was upon us. I decided to sit on the front porch and wait for it.
As the first drops began to fall with intensity I continued to wait until the deluge came. Sure enough, within minutes, you could barely see all the way up the street for the sheets of water pouring forth from those dark clouds. So then I did exactly what I had been waiting to do and I walked out in the rain. And then I ran through our front yard up to the street, splashed through the water pouring down the gutters and held up my hands toward the sky and just let the rain drench me.
I love the rain. I love being the rain. The way this water just pours out of the sky and washes over me. I feel like it's touching more than my body, but my soul too. I feel like the rain washes things away that are inside of me that no amount of showering could even touch. I feel like the God is in the rain. There are parts of God's creation that just make me feel so close to Him. It's like that with the mountains, and especially the ocean. And the rain.
But the rain and the feelings it stirs in my soul, only make me long to have a time like that with Jesus. Where I can just bask in His presence and have his power and love wash over my soul and make me feel refreshed and clean. Nothing can compare to that. Not even a Carolina thunderstorm.
