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The saying “when it rains it pours” is not a metaphor for those of us living in the Pacific Northwest.  In late December we had 2 inches of rain in one day.  I have learned to be positive about the whole rainy season.  No matter if I am ready for it or not, it comes.  I have often wondered how it is possible for clouds to hold so much water.  But I am grateful for the breaks in between the weather systems that have allowed me to see a beautiful rainbow as I drove along the water.  I am grateful when the sun rays illuminate the ground around the trees in the little wood by the house and brighten the kitchen. I am grateful for the clear nights that make me go outside to admire the bright stars and when the full moon is allowed to reflect brightly against the house making me wonder if I’ve left the lights on outside. I am grateful for the respite from the downpour for a few hours, a day or more before once again the curtain of clouds closes down on us and the sheets of rain return.    Patiently I wait and listen for the rain to stop once again, my patience is rewarded.  I don’t take those breaks for granted, as soon as possible I go outside.  The clouds have parted and have allowed for a glimpse of the sky.  I feel like a swimmer coming up for air, my eyes rediscovering its blue color as my face looks up to see how much of the sky is open.  It feels like a gift, a kind gesture.  I love the feel of the cold air against my face, I can see my breath and the steam coming off my dog’s body as we walk and play together in the field.  

As I walk around the field kicking Balto’s red ball, my feet squishing the sodden ground, we are both startled by a crashing sound from somewhere behind us.  An old tree has just fallen and is now wedged between two standing trees.  We were in no danger as we always play in the open part of the field.  I can see that the top of the tree is laying on the ground, it has split off from the trunk and broken into many pieces.  The dark wet bark of the fallen trunk contrasts against the light color of the wood.  For this old tree, time had come to let go, the sodden ground couldn’t hold it in place any longer.  The area is littered with large fallen branches, the trees are no match against the strong winds, the rain, nature itself.   

During every wind storm limbs break off and fall, tiny branches, leaves, pine cones and needles are blown across the yard and on the roof, once in a while a whole tree collapses under the weight of itself.  As limbs fall, sometimes one will get stuck, held by other branches.  Sometimes they hit other branches taking them down with them, a domino effect.  As I look at the fallen tree it occurs to me that the life of a human being is very much like that of a tree.  We start as a seed, then we are flexible sapling, throughout our growth we get stronger and hopefully wiser, until we too can no longer hang on to life and have to let go.  Children, family, friends like seeds can be blown and scattered far and wide so that they can live their own life and grow in their own space.  Sometimes the break is needed so that we can grow or that they can grow.  Sometimes the break is permanent causing us pain or sorrow, but life somehow has a way of always emerging even from some very dark recesses.  Others will hold out a hand,  keeping us from crashing down or making the landing much softer.  Sometimes we get hurt by others or hurt them on our way down.  As human beings we are offered life with all its baggage, its uncertainties, its beauty, its frailty, its hardship, its lessons.  There are no certainties in life, no guarantees, however, we do have control over our own thoughts, our own selves.   Our attitudes towards ourselves and others, the way we talk to ourselves and others can make all the difference in somebody’s day including our own.   We have the power to make ourselves and others happy or unhappy, to be kind, to be generous or not.  The choice is ours, that is a responsibility that we all carry.  No matter where we are at, or our circumstances, the current of life’s energy moves through us, around us and within us.  It doesn’t wait for us to be ready, life goes on no matter what, that is the nature of it.

The rain always comes back, the curtain closes again, the water starts splattering around me, the tempo increases, it is time to go back in.