Waiting for Rain
Have you ever experienced a drought? There is something about a season without rain: Looking at the things that should be alive and growing, but instead are dry, brittle and in desperate need of water. Waiting for rain. Wondering when it will come. Hoping when it does it will be enough to revive the things that need it most.
How does your garden grow?
My garden currently looks a bit like a section of the Kalahari Desert. The patches where there is still grass, is all yellow and spiky. Where the grass has died it is sandy and dusty. There are no flowers and it’s all a little sad. I’m not sure when last we had rain but the fact that I can’t remember tells me that it was a long time ago.
I grew up in England, a place known for rain, so living now in a climate where rain during the summer is a rarity, takes some getting used to. English people love to discuss the weather, it’s part of who we are. When rain is plentiful and frequent you take it for granted. At times it becomes a pain and something to complain about but when it’s not there, it doesn’t take long for you to miss – not just the rain but also the effect it has on your surroundings.
The obvious solution during a dry season is to grab a hosepipe and do a bit of watering. Without a helping hand the outlook can become barren and things that should be alive and flourishing can shrivel up and disappear completely.
Dry spells aren’t just a phenomena found in the weather. There are seasons in life when we can feel dry, dusty and less than alive. It’s not a physical drought but an emotional one. You could call it being depressed, being stuck in a rut or simply being soul tired. Whatever name you give it, it all boils down to the same thing: giving out more than we are taking in and being desperately in need of something to break the atmosphere.
Soul Food
When you’re at the end of yourself, feeling as though you’re going through the motions rather than actually living, as much as you may want to sit around and wait for things to get better, that is the time when you need to take action and feed your soul. This may look different for you depending on where your interests lay but feeding your soul is about finding things that encourage you, things that make you feel alive. It’s about remembering that life is worth grabbing with both hands and making every moment count. Read something that inspires you, connect with people who will build you and spur you on. Get outside of your normal routine, go on an adventure, challenge yourself and attempt to do something you’ve never done before.
When the heavens open
For me, feeding my soul includes remembering who I am. I’m a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend – but before all this I am a child of God. When I’m running on empty and feel like there is nothing more in me left to give, the best thing for me to do is to go back to the beginning and find hope in the knowledge that God cares for me. When my soul is tired it’s normally because I’ve depended too heavily on my own strength and relied solely on my own ability. Yes, I can replenish my reserves with a night off, a good dose of laughter, a long walk and a breath of fresh air, but these things will only sustain me for a time, like the spray from a hose on a hot day. But if I go to my source, to the God who said he would be my strength when I am weak, it’s like the heavens have opened and rains have returned.
If you feel like you’re dry on the inside or if this post has spoken to you, please leave a comment of click on the link below.