Rainy days are some of my favorite days. Many people don't understand why it is that I love these dark, dreary hours of wetness and the truth is that I didn't know myself for several years. I had tossed around the idea that rain represented cleansing and  that somewhere in my soul I was comforted by this symbolism of God's grace pouring over us. But this seemed too wise an observation for a few drops of moisture and it was somewhat draining to turn over in my small brain.

Then I had the answer. Rainy days didn't make me think deep thoughts but quite the opposite. Rain simplifies life. Let me see if I can pull this out of my soggy mind and explain it. On perfect, sunny days we have many things that occupy our minds and drain our energy. When the sun shines bright, we worry about how we look in our clothing; what will other people be wearing, will I be too warm in this outfit, have I gained too much weight to wear this? I'd better call someone to get their opinion. Once the clothing issue is decided, we then have to worry about being sunburned on the skin we didn't cover up; will I be out long enough to get burned, what SPF level should I buy, what in the world is an SPF? Did you know that SPF actually stands for Sun Produced Frenzy? On sunny days all these concerns for looks and appearance plague us.

On cold, rainy days there are very few determining factors to our peace; am I wet or dry; am I indoors or out; if I'm in, do I have to go back out? Therefore rain becomes the great equalizer that brings everyone's concerns back to center and that center is our basic well being and outlook on life, not all the side issues that bog down our joy. I've been thinking this simplifying affect could apply to snow also but I can only muster enough brainpower to analyze one season at a time.

Now the symbolism comes into play. This is what God allows to happen in order to pull our attention back to the important things. He allows the rain to fall in our lives. Some people would argue that life's serious problems complicate life but I would argue the juxtaposition. Serious problems simplify life. They bring our attention back to what is truly important; the well-being of our family, our spiritual growth, focusing on God's grace and the love of Jesus. Let's say that you've just learned of some terrible news. In the passing of a few breaths, the state of your wardrobe is forgotten, getting your house a new coat of paint can wait, that argument you had with your wife or child is forgiven in the wake of the news.

I have to confess that I used to hate rainy days when I was young and less mature; those days when it rained from the time you opened your eyes in the morning until your bedtime prayers. In my earliest years, my mom and dad both worked outside the home to make ends meet in our little town which meant I got to spend my days at my great aunt Fairy's house. I know that's an unusual name, Fairy, but she was an unusually special lady, at least in my eyes.

I'd stand at the backdoor of her huge, white, old house and just stare out through the rain across the back yard and sometimes across the garden. I'm sure I had the worst look on my face because I wanted her and God to know beyond a doubt that I was unhappy with this rainy day. All this water was seriously cutting in to my plans and this rain made me feel that these days were being stolen from me.

Then I'd see aunt Fairy's shadow on the door as she crept up behind me. I didn't want to be comforted. She'd put that soft, wrinkled, old hand on my shoulder and I'd pull away. But she'd pull me away from the door, take me in her lap and start to tell me stories from "before I was even thought about." At first, I'd stare distractedly out the door but by and by aunt Fairy would draw me into her stories. Then we'd be running through the fields of her childhood and I'd watch her climb her favorite tree. She'd tell of the flowers and my nostrils would flare to catch the smell; she'd tell of the sights and my eyes would widen to take it all in. My great aunt Fairy would tell me stories about my father; how he would play in the backyard under the two trees that had all the moss growing between them. She said he loved to lie on that moss because it was cool on a hot summer's day and that it was no wonder I liked to lie there too.

I spent hours on my aunt Fairy's lap and it was some of my happiest times. Her lap was a place of vast stories that all shared simple truths. And I've come to cherish simplicity. Rain simplifies. Problems simplify. I wish again for a simple story for my life. Nothing fancy. So I'm glad there's a rainy day at hand. A simple, memory laden and wise rainy day.