Rain and the Flow of Life

Photo by: Malene Thyssen

April Rain Song:

Let the rain kiss you.
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night –
And I love the rain.

– Langston Hughes (1902-1967).

I have always loved the sound of rain, which is probably why I love spring in Oklahoma, and wistfully wish that I lived someplace like Washington State, where it rains almost all year long. Unfortunately, those of us in Oklahoma have been suffering through the worst drought since the famous “Dust Bowl” period. Luckily, today we have been blessed by several hours of hard steady rain. The rain and occasional thunderclap have added a wonderful soundtrack to my workday, as I finish up some discovery responses in a legal case that I am working on. I have also enjoyed the fresh and clean smell of nature as the various plants outside of my office window open up to receive the rain.

During lunch I replied to a series of emails from a reader asking for advice on how to deal with the spiritual and emotional highs and lows of life. My advice to her was, as I have stated several times on previous posts, is to simply learn to go with the flow of life. I always, half jokingly, tell people to watch “The Big Lebowski“, and try to be more like Jeff Bridges’ character “The Dude”, because no matter the situation, The Dude abides.

A central teaching of eastern religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism), is that while life is impermanent, there is a natural flow to life.  So, in many ways rain mimics the flow and general impermanence of life. For example, the very same plants that are being nourished by today’s rain, will have to face the scorching heat of an Oklahoma summer, in just a few short months. Also, the rain that is filling the local lakes and streams, will flow away, or evaporate in the summer heat. In the same way, the spiritual and emotional highs of life are eventually tempered by low points. However, there is no reason to despair, because just as the evaporated rain water condenses in clouds to become rain once again, the low points of life will eventually give way to happier times. The key is to set down deep spiritual and emotional roots, so that when tough times come, you can face them with greater ease.

Practical Tip: Keep a journal and record the good times and the bad. During “good times” read over entries from “bad times”, and use them as positive reinforcement that things always get better. During the bad times, read over entries from good times, to help motivate you to stay the course, because as always, things will get better. Above all, stay centered, and try to just enjoy living in the now.

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Also please check out my book, “The Path: Using the Religions of the World as a Guide to Personal and Spiritual Development.” (Click on the book cover to view on Amazon.com)