College Years
While attending Reinhardt College in the mid-eighties, Donna and I tried to follow Olivia Newton John’s advice of “Let’s get Physical” every Monday and Wednesday. We energetically headed to the gym to begin our aerobic workout routines. I don’t remember us sporting the popular headbands that many wore, but I’m sure some days we had on tanks and oversized shirts that hung off one shoulder, Flash Dance style.
If it wasn’t for the music and the laughter that we shared, I am not certain that we would have enjoyed stepping on and off those individual-sized, wooden boxes. When our torture ended, we acknowledged the instructor’s advice of not eating or drinking for thirty minutes. Though after anxiously watching the clock for the allotted time, we would head to the Gulf station to get our Coke Icees. All these years later, I still have a vivid memory of us walking there even if it was raining. We did not rush because of the wetness; instead like we did so often, we broke out into BJ Thomas’ song:
Raindrops are fallin’ on my head.
But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turnin’ red
Cryin’s not for me
‘Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’
Because I’m free
Nothin’s worryin’ me…
Later on in Life
Over the past thirty years, we have discovered that sometimes the raindrops do seemed more like Niagara Falls, and they have drenched us at times. Like most, Donna and I spent our childhood wishing we were older and more independent. But now that we are here, we desire life to be more carefree like that of our youth.
Yesterday, it poured. I mean cats and dogs! Some thunder and wind accompanied the buckets that fell. It was the first day of my spring break. I thought how most people would have been wishing for different weather, but having the bronchitis that I have had, I was content to have a slow start and stay dry for the morning hours. As I watched the storm, I thought how I have grown amidst that storms in my life. I am so thankful for my forest, like Donna wrote about last week, https://smorgasbordofsisterhood.com/plant-yourself/. If not for my forest, I am not sure how successfully I would have navigated myself on my own. My forest stood tall during my various raging gales over the years.
Detours
There are times when the storms so powerful that our paths become repositioned, just as streams naturally detour from mighty rains. We can run in the other direction or sat there and given up. However, I do not think that is what God desires. Instead, He wants us press on, using His mighty hand as our strength and courage. While our circumstances may alter our paths, God will guide up downstream when we allow Him.
Navigation
I am sorry to inform Mr. B J Thomas, but at times my crying eyes surely have turned red when raindrops from the storms of life have fallen on my head. To be completely honestly, there have been things that have worried me deeply. I strive to reach the point in life where I can say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2.
However, as I listened to the birds chirping so freely this pretty April morning, I believe I have arrived in a place where I can look back on past storms and appreciate the beauty and serenity I gained after walking through. I can boldly declare that I have experienced the joy that comes in the morning after the weeping that lasted through the nights. (referenced from Psalm 30:5b)
-Karla
As we continued to paddle, I raised my arm out of the water, exposing a huge jellyfish that had wrapped its tentacles around my arm. Screaming, I flung my arm. It flew through the air, and landed on my back. I thrashed around to knock it off as it was stinging my back. In my frantic movement I fell into the water and my float glided away. Jellyfish stung my entire body. The only thing within reach was Annmarie lying on her float. I quickly climbed on top of her back. We paddled rapidly to my float, and I relocated.