Mmmmm.

There is just something about rain.

Yesterday I journeyed to Seattle with a few friends. And, after driving around for what seemed like hours, finally found a parking spot several blocks from a very important record store (one of our many destinations that afternoon).When we first set out early in the morning, the weather looked promising. So I did not bring an umbrella. But true to Seattle, it began chucking it down by lunch time. We decided to walk the odd number of blocks to the record store anyway.

At first, I felt a little unsure of this whole "getting wet" thing. The rain came down harder and harder as our heels pressed into every new step, soaking us to the absolute brim. But eventually I learned that puddles feel ever so lovely to step into, and even began to outstretch my hands as a gesture of acceptance towards the rain. It reminded me of that old musical "Singing In the Rain". I swear, I even heard the rain come down like tiny music notes, each resounding uniquely together upon my face. And for a moment, the world froze - like they do in the films when lovers embrace upon first reuniting or when a suffering soul reaches the cleansing joy of redemption.

I collect moments like that; moments when no matter where I am or who I am with or what I am going through, I am filled with some strange kind of delight that everything in all of its complexity really is simple. Those are the moments when the world slows on its axis, and I get this picture in my mind of God just...smiling. You know, the way a Dad smiles when he's delighted to give his child something they really really really want. It's that reaction: that quiet "you know I'm happy to" reaction. Oh! That's such a good reaction. Blimey, I feel like such a child when that happens!

Ha! And that's what I want to accomplish. I spend so much time trying to be grown up and forget what it means to delight in being a child. At times I wonder if that's all it takes - to have the kind of faith that shakes mountains. A simple faith full of wonder and awe towards God. It puts us in such a position of true humility; joyful humility. I mean, how many of us, if we're honest, get stuck in a rut thinking we know all there is to know about theology or church or the Bible? That arrogance is a sin and a distraction from the beautifully simple relationship we have with God.

If we feel we are at a place where we no longer need to grow (or even that there is not much more to God and faith than we already know), may we pray for God to slap us in the face with a wake up call - immediately! And that is what I have to say today.

With love,
Courtney Danielson