It was 7am on my day off and I wanted to stay in bed. In part because it was feeling really good to be lazy, but mainly because I knew as soon as I got up, I would have to take the dog (King) outside. It was raining and that was not how I wanted to begin my day.
I wanted to linger in bed, leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee, read my daily Bible devotions, and just enjoy the peaceful morning stillness.
However, the dog had other needs and he was beginning to whine. I knew if I did not get up soon, I would be cleaning up an unpleasant mess. That was definitely not how I wanted to begin me day either. So, I got up.
I was greeted with his four paws anxiously tapping on the kitchen floor. He was saying, “C’mon! C’mon! C’mon! Hurry up! I need to go!”
My coffee would have to wait.
I put his leash on him and out we went into the drizzling rain. He, excited to be alive. Me, grumbling.
We walked the path that went around our yard, down to the sumac forest. It was here that King decided to stop. I was thinking, “Come on! Let’s get this done. It’s raining and I don’t want to be out here.” But he had decided to stop and listen. To what? I didn’t know, and to be honest I really did not care.
As we stood there, a subtle shift began nudging my grumbling disposition. I found myself listening too. I guess it had never before occurred to me to stand out in the rain and just listen; imagine that. But as I did, I noticed there was a beautiful chorus of birdsong coming from the sumac. The rain was making a soft brushing sound as it fell on the leaves. I could hear the chatter of geese from the lake, and the mewing of sheep from a neighboring farm.
King then lifted his nose in the air to breathe it all in. I followed his lead. I could smell the lilacs and the apple blossoms and the freshness of the rain that just moments before was so bothersome to me.
Without my permission, and despite my resistance, my grumbling soul was restored to the peaceful stillness that I was longing for.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3a)
Blessings on your week, Jean Wagner
To prepare for worship on Sunday
(May 16), you are invited to read:
Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29