ready for the rain

When I was in college, way back in the day, my friend Phil introduced me to the joys of rainwalking. It's not a complicated thing, doesn't require any specialized equipment, and is accessible to anyone regardless of age or skill level. I don't think that it's going to become the next Olympic sport, though it's about as easy as curling. All you need is a semi-warm day and a bit of rain. No umbrella. No rain coat. No galoshes (does anyone wear galoshes anymore?). The goal is to get soaked, to actually experience the rain.

Most people I know try to avoid the rain. I'll admit, it can be an inconvenience, getting wet. Especially when you have somewhere else to be, and you need to be presentable. I get that.

But when I can, I like to get wet. I enjoy the experience. There's a warmth and peace that wash over me as I let the water roll down my face, down my neck. I like the slosh of water in my shoes, the smell of the ground. It doesn't matter if the rain is gentle or the hard, driving kind. They're drastically different, but both are good in their own right.

I think part of the draw for me is the symbolism of cleansing. In the rain, I get the sense of God washing the earth clean of the day's dust and dirt. There's a picture of renewal as the rain waters the growing flowers, trees, and grass. Everything is becoming green and fresh.

The only thing that makes the rainwalk better is having someone special to splash around with. Let it rain!