in the company of rain.

last night i went walking in the rain. my heart was full of ireland... i had spent part of the afternoon sharing some deeply significant memories with a friend. though i have revisited my memories many times, this one came with a new sense of promise, peace, and hope. i came home, greeted my housemate carrie, and instead of busying myself like i often do, all i wanted to do was sit. but not inside. i did not want to be closed in by walls. though the presence of God is in all of space at every moment, when i am outside, i feel access to God in a visceral, tangible kind of way. i am surrounded by moving air, and last night the falling rain--the perfect companion for my ireland-filled heart. i ventured to a lake a couple minutes' drive from my house. i was surprised to find other people walking and running there. i was one of the few with umbrellas (this time i wanted the comfort of protection... though i aspire to be one of the umbrella-less dwellers soon). most moved wordlessly, carried by the rythm of footsteps and falling water, all of us submerged in the presence of rain.


it was a light rain. the kind that makes everything look soft and beautiful. the water on the ground reflected light. the trees were vibrant, strong and ever stronger as they stood in rain. their branches and leaves glowing with the yellow-green of new life.


i thought about tears... the pain and sadness that cause human hearts to break and saltdrops to fall...soft as the raindrops. and the healing, strength, and new life that comes in their midst. aware that many tears have brought my heart to this evening of quiet fullness.

i circled the lake and returned to my car. then, home again, jeans and new runners properly soaked (thankfully these shoes were purchased expressly for practicality, not aesthetics :)) and put on the kettle for tea. not just any tea, but real barry's that arrived thursday from dun laoghaire. i drank it in a mug, with candles lit, listening to BellX1, all of which had come together with the tea. the essence of ireland and dearest friends filling my senses.

i'm thankful for the rain.