We Prayed for Rain
We prayed for rain.
Long weeks of oppressive heat scorched our lawns into brittle, yellowed hay.
We prayed for rain.
Nightly, a burdened weatherman spoke of disappointing "possible chances."
We prayed for rain.
It became serious business when crops began to wither, and instead of roasting summer marshmallows, we worried about our wells running dry.
We prayed for rain.
For once, everybody in town was on the same page. It's the first unanimous agreement I've seen in a decade and a half. Rain?? We're ALL for it! All the churches in town asked God for the same thing.
We prayed for rain.
With the one exception of the lady who announced to her tea party that she had implored the good Lord to bless them with a sunny afternoon-- and her guests almost burned her at the stake.
We prayed for rain.
Late one night, thunder rolled, lightening flashed, and winds blew a few branches from the trees. But they were all just empty promises: dry clouds and nothing more.
We prayed for rain.
Those of us without air conditioning sweltered, swigged lemonaid, went swimming, and made extra trips to the grocery store.
We prayed for rain.
"Sure has been hot." everybody told Bob at the Post Office -- as if he didn't know.
We prayed for rain -- and somehow survived.
We survived the fiery furnace, perhaps, because tough weather builds tough people. Up here in the northwoods, we know tough weather -- though usually, it's of the winter variety. Toughened by severe winters, we can survive a scrawny little heat wave. What is a mere 105 when we've survived 45 below? Still, we'd rather take the winters.
We prayed for rain.
And finally, our prayers were answered. Suddenly,sweetly, strongly -- after a long, hard month of drought, it came, like Noah's flood.
It came with a pounding vengeance. Gale force winds toppled trees, snapped power lines, and lifted roofs from their buildings. Roads were blocked, homes were darkened, and frantic workers scrambled to establish reconnections. Fear and thanksgiving mingled together in the howling winds. Sometimes prayers are answered with a roaring exclamation point!
Overnight, it seemed, the yellow stubble transformed into a lush carpet of green. The soft summer rains that followed came with with sighs of great relief.
A long drive in the countryside, revealed the carnage of fallen timbers blended with the beauty of a freshly renewed earth. The birds sang again, and flowers were smiling, somewhat grateful for heaven's severe mercy.
Long weeks of oppressive heat scorched our lawns into brittle, yellowed hay.
We prayed for rain.
Nightly, a burdened weatherman spoke of disappointing "possible chances."
We prayed for rain.
It became serious business when crops began to wither, and instead of roasting summer marshmallows, we worried about our wells running dry.
We prayed for rain.
For once, everybody in town was on the same page. It's the first unanimous agreement I've seen in a decade and a half. Rain?? We're ALL for it! All the churches in town asked God for the same thing.
We prayed for rain.
With the one exception of the lady who announced to her tea party that she had implored the good Lord to bless them with a sunny afternoon-- and her guests almost burned her at the stake.
We prayed for rain.
Late one night, thunder rolled, lightening flashed, and winds blew a few branches from the trees. But they were all just empty promises: dry clouds and nothing more.
We prayed for rain.
Those of us without air conditioning sweltered, swigged lemonaid, went swimming, and made extra trips to the grocery store.
We prayed for rain.
"Sure has been hot." everybody told Bob at the Post Office -- as if he didn't know.
We prayed for rain -- and somehow survived.
We survived the fiery furnace, perhaps, because tough weather builds tough people. Up here in the northwoods, we know tough weather -- though usually, it's of the winter variety. Toughened by severe winters, we can survive a scrawny little heat wave. What is a mere 105 when we've survived 45 below? Still, we'd rather take the winters.
We prayed for rain.
And finally, our prayers were answered. Suddenly,sweetly, strongly -- after a long, hard month of drought, it came, like Noah's flood.
It came with a pounding vengeance. Gale force winds toppled trees, snapped power lines, and lifted roofs from their buildings. Roads were blocked, homes were darkened, and frantic workers scrambled to establish reconnections. Fear and thanksgiving mingled together in the howling winds. Sometimes prayers are answered with a roaring exclamation point!
Overnight, it seemed, the yellow stubble transformed into a lush carpet of green. The soft summer rains that followed came with with sighs of great relief.
A long drive in the countryside, revealed the carnage of fallen timbers blended with the beauty of a freshly renewed earth. The birds sang again, and flowers were smiling, somewhat grateful for heaven's severe mercy.
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