After the Rain

“He provides rain for the earth.”

– Job 5:10 

The definition of pluviophile is “lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days”. 

If you are like the majority of the population rain probably makes you gloomy. This is because we associate rain with the absence of sunlight, a direct correlation to happiness. My fellow readers who relate to that, I challenge you to continue reading and I hope you will develop an appreciation for rain. 

Ever since I was little I have always had a fascination with storms. The smell, the taste, the touch, everything. To this day I know when it is about to drizzle. The atmosphere before and after feels like clean heaviness, smells of bruised grass, and leaves an intoxicating earthy sweetness you can almost taste. There is a reason that people are captivated by the scent of rain. It’s ‘petrichor’, or the assortment of fragrance compounds we smell after the earth releases oils when preparing for rain. This moistening of the ground excretes these smells that humans have learned to recognize, and if you are like me, find comforting. The word ‘petrichor’ comes from the Greek words ‘petra’, meaning stone, and ‘ichor’, which in Greek mythology refers to the golden fluid that flows in the veins of the Greek gods. 

I thought that rain was a good subject to write about today because I am in a time of waiting. When God puts me in times of waiting it always reminds me of the sound of rain because it is the only time silence does not feel empty. I am preparing to leave the rest of my life as I know it in a week. I feel as though I am currently in the storm awaiting the rainbow. I know it’s coming and I find myself fluctuating between wanting the rainbow to arrive faster, and wanting to be drenched in the waters of my sweet childhood forever. I am a mixture of scared, terrified, excited, sad, and happy. 

Rain is given as a gift but it also has the power to flood. I am trying my best to not feel consumed by the ticking clock as I await my departure date. I am so incredibly thankful for the people who have given me the strength to swim through this significant transition. Thank you to my fellow racers who have been so overwhelmingly engaged. Thank you to my friends who have encouraged me to rest, and who have been a ray of sunshine in my life. Thank you to my family who has been intentional, loving, and so incredibly supportive. Thank you to my prayer team and my financial partners and donors, I could not have gotten here without your generosity. Above all, I am so thankful that the Lord has chosen to be so present in my life at this moment. I am thankful for this intimate time I get to spend alone with Him before leaving with my team.

As the launch gets closer I realize that this journey will not be all sunshine and flowers and there will be continuous days and even weeks where it feels like I am drowning. But through it all God is faithful and I know I must sometimes hurt to truly help the hurting. 

While some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. The tension lies in not letting myself get too soaked in worry and doubt in the midst of the waiting and the storms. Why? Because God is good and the rainbow, sunshine and flowers always come after the rain. Maybe not today, I mean it took Noah 40 days, but may I not ever forget that as the rain nourishes the earth it also nourishes and cleanses our souls.

 “Every time it rains, the soil counts every drop to know exactly how many times to thank God!”

– Mehmet Murat Ildan

I cannot believe I leave in a week. I cannot wait for the sun to rise as I take off and land in Georgia one week from today. But as of now, I am content as the storm lulls me to sleep with my family, friends, and church by my side.