A Short Walk

Today, I went for a walk. 

There really isn't anything unusual about that. I love to walk my neighborhood and often take the opportunity to do so. 

What made today different is that rain was in the forecast. Okay, that's actually not that unusual either. I mean . . . it rains. What was different is that in spite of there being rain in the forecast I decided to get in a quick walk anyway. What was the worst that could happen? It wasn't supposed to be a downpour for at least an hour.

So, I changed into my running shoes (I don't really run, but the shoes work for walking, too), put my headphones in, and away I went. I was positive I could make it back before the rain. 

I am sure you see where this is going by now. Yeah, you guessed it. I got to the half way point of my walk, and the rain started. It was just a light mist at first. It was actually kind of lovely. 

But then . . . the skies went from that nice little sprinkle to a full blown downpour! And I was now only a little over half way through the walk . . . which then became a brisk walk . . . which turned into a light jog . . . which turned into a RUN. Good thing I had my running shoes on!

Then I burst out laughing. I was drenched. And it was a blast. 

There was no way I could get any wetter now. So, I slowed down and started to walk again. I haven't walked in a downpour for decades. I felt like a kid again. 

This made me think of one of my favorite quotes, "Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet" (Roger Miller). I was definitely doing both but was trying to fully live into the sentiment. There is joy in the rain. It is truly miraculous.

As I neared the front door of my house, another quote came to mind. This one was not so folksy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "for (God) makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45, NRSV). Rain on the righteous and unrighteous. Hmm. Suddenly, it hit me. Of course this is true. For here, in me, are both. I am righteous and unrighteous. Both simultaneously exist inside of me all of the time. And the rain is falling. I am soaking wet. 

That is how the economy of God's love, grace, and mercy works. This economy doesn't ask if we are ready. It doesn't wait for us to be properly dressed. It doesn't worry if it was smart to go on that walk or not. Nope. It just rains. If we can learn how to walk in the rain and not just get wet, everything changes. And we may even find ourselves laughing and soaking wet.

Enjoy the rain. Maybe even go for a walk.