Something About the Rain
Yesterday was the first day of the Hebrew month of Shvat. The month of Shvat brings to mind thoughts of rain. I couldn't have asked for a better entry into this new month. Here in Petach Tikva, we had intermittent rain and I was beckoned out of doors for a walk in the park.
As kids, we sang 'rain, rain go away; please come back another day.' It never felt right to me. What's wrong with rain?! When our kids were young, I made it a point to get them out sloshing around in the then heavy rains in the mountains of the Shomron (the Samarian hills). I dressed them very well in waterproof garb....AND... umbrellas were not allowed.
I wanted the kids to feel the rain dripping down their faces and off
the tips of their little noses. I wanted them to feel the mush of mud under their boots and enjoy splashing in puddles. We walked, sang, skipped, and opened our mouths to catch raindrops. I wonder if any of my kids remember these special walks.
I'm all grown up now ;) and just remembering those days brings a smile to my face. I also recall my teen age years filled with long walks in the rain on the beach with our dog Daisy. She never complained and I always knew I'd be able to change into dry clothes when we got back home. So what's the big fuss about rain?
In Judaism, rain is generally looked upon as a blessing. It is a sign of life and plenty. It is a source of nourishment to the fields so important to the crops that feed and nourish us.
So although my kids are grown, and I no longer live near the beach, I cannot resist a walk in the rain. I sometimes take an umbrella with me, yet, somehow I end up closing it and walking as I should, with the rain falling on my face. That's what I did yesterday.
The experience of walking in the rain surrounded by nature....well, I have no words to describe it properly. Everything - all the colors and shapes - have an unusual clarity.
The sounds of the birds were so clear and loud. I looked up to spot a few birds at the top of a really tall tree; they seemed to be screaming out "G-d is GREAT!" I had to agree - He certainly is!
The rain connects Heaven and earth. It comes from above and it lands below, is absorbed into the earth and along the way, showers all people and things -- including me :)
The soft sound of your feet kind of merges with your heart beat and the rhythm of the rain. It's a feeling of being one with nature. I felt my wet self identifying with the wet trees. I felt myself expand with the expansiveness of a huge lawn - all colored in the most brilliant greens. I felt an affinity with a dying tree, as it stood stooped over, its branches tangled and lifeless. I felt its loneliness.
Sometimes we feel lonely and dried out and other times we feel alive and brilliant. That's the way it is and today the trees told the story of humanity.
If you follow my blog regularly, you've probably noticed that I talk a lot about my walks. Even 10 minutes out of doors can make such a difference in your day. We need to get moving. Modern day life can make us very sedentary if we allow it. Taking a walk with Hashem beats any cycling machine or workout in the gym. Out of doors, we have the opportunity to feel the unity of all things created.
That's what I have to say about the rain today.
Wishing all a good month,
MashaFaygel