I am listening to the music of the rain. As it falls from the gray skies that have enveloped my mountain valley, the patter of its drops fall from the roof onto the ground below. The nourishment it brings is welcomed by the earth as it soaks deeply into the ground and replenishes the life-giving soil.
I won't complain about the chill in the air, the mud the dog brings in on her little feet, or the droplets she carries into the house on her back. She smiles at me as she shakes them onto the floor as if to say, "You don't mind if I bring a little in with me, do you?", then makes her odd little circles over the top of her rug before curling into a smaller shape to warm her body. I clean up any footprints or raindrop spatters that have reached the cabinets and smile back at her. Today I don't mind. I am listening to the rain.
The rain is my music. Its melody is gentle and soothing, reminding me of the continuing providence the earth and its inhabitants faithfully receive. In the days and weeks to come, there will be a different music played from the heavens. It will be the music of sunshine and heat the summer will bring; of the occasional thunderstorm that perches atop the mountains surrounding my home, its booming bass drums and timpani echoing back and forth across the valley floor, the lightening flashing its brilliance like crashing cymbals bringing the symphony to its glorious conclusion. The cadence of life passing by as in a dream will play upon my soul as I listen to the musical laughter of my grandchildren freed from the constraints of school and relishing the days of warmth and frolic.
There is much more music coming, but today, I am listening to the rain. Verses begin to flood my mind, feeding my soul like the waters feed the earth.
“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full."
Deut. 11:13-15
“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God!"
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God!"
Deut. 32:1-3
"Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly."
the number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly."
Job 36:26-28
"May they fear you while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth!
like showers that water the earth!
In his days may the righteous flourish,
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!"
and peace abound, till the moon be no more!"
Psalm 72:5-7
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
make melody to our God on the lyre!
He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147:7-8
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Matthew 5:44-45
I know the music of the rain will soon cease and the sign of God's enduring covenant will shine brightly in the sky (Gen 9:8-17). From one side of my valley to the next, the bow will gleam with vibrant colors of promise, a glorious display in the heavens that will stop even the hardest heart as it gazes upon it in wonder and awe. The melody that issues forth from the bow will pierce the eye and flow into the heart that desires understanding of the One who placed it there. That is its purpose and its music will not go unnoticed.
Today I am listening to the music of the rain. It is carrying me along with its gentle bars of praise and worship, and its heavenly melody is filling my soul.
Tomorrow there will be a different song from heaven. But for now, I will rest to the musical tones of the rain falling upon my heart.
Do you hear the music?
