I woke up early this morning, and after stepping outside I turned back to grab my rain coat. Rain coat on I headed to meet the bus for the short term group to make sure everything was in going well for them. Thankfully this all happened during a break in the rain, so they weren't wet getting on the bus. I felt bad for them, they were north of the city, and from what I recall, some of those sites don't have much cover if it decides to rain. Couldn't it wait to a better time?
Back on campus and the rain continues, on and off, sometimes heavier, sometimes just misting. Everyone inside, trying to stay dry. The seasons are definitely changing.
I have always viewed rain as a necessary blessing. It was a critical part of life, it is a need - for water, and God gives it in its due season. This could not be truer here. Last winter was particularly dry, and if there is another dry year, things won't be good for agriculture. The land depends on the winter rain, the rain in its season.
At lunch it came up that because of how far east we are - we don't tend to get the heavy downpours, rather we get sprinkles and rain, then a little later some more sprinkles. This too is a blessing. The land is rocky. If water comes too fast it can't soak into the ground - even in land where it isn't rocky. A rainy day is better to water the plants than all of it as once.
And then there are the unexpected blessings.
Today is Friday. Tensions have been high in Jerusalem this last week and a half. Lives have been lost, and violence has broken out mostly in the East parts of the city. There are extra police - and they were getting ready for Friday - the day of traditional prayers. One of the news sites I looked at mentioned that the Palestine's were being encouraged to have a 'Day of Rage' against the events that have happened over these past weeks. In particular the temple mount being completely closed yesterday.
Mid-morning, while working in the office and seeing the rain, during a heavier rainfall, it occurred to me. If anything is going to discourage a 'Day of Rage' or riots and protest. A persistent, cold, wet rain will do better than anything else. (In addition it makes the rocks very slippery - I'm guessing it is harder to run too)
Maybe God knows our true need better than we do. A day of violence and protest won't do any good, probably only end up getting more people hurt and killed. Maybe God know and is able to enact the simplest, yet most effective way of dampening the rage, all while nurturing the land. This rain wasn't a surprise, we knew it was going to be a wet weekend, but maybe God's greatest blessings can be found in the ordinary things.
How simple is it to overlook the blessings in life? To simply stand by and see it as an ordinary thing, good in itself, but when God uses it, it can be so much more.
