The postcard perfect weather of the morning had faded into a violet-gray, overcast sky. Parents were corralling their kids and demanding that they help carry the family’s beach paraphernalia as they hurried off the sand. Rain was coming. At least it looked that way.
We put our damageables in the canvas beach bag, hid it under the umbrella, looked at the sky, and waited. We were staying.
A few breezes later the heavy drizzle fell. We sat on Tommy Bahama chairs and talked. As we approached that uncomfortable feeling of being soaked, the rain kicked into a higher gear. A strong and steady flow of water fell on us from all angles. Some of us stayed put on the chairs, a few others moved under the beach umbrella for a little protection. My daughter and I decided to play paddleball.
That uncomfortable moment of being drenched was itself soon drenched by other feelings.
Peace. A childlike, care-free happiness. Or maybe it was silliness. A oneness with nature. A release from all responsibility. A reminder that life is governed by a force outside our own.
As the Psalmist says: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). We were being put in our place and it felt good!
As human whiteboards with the rain as a dry eraser, the weather was renewing us, if we would tolerate it.
We did.
Minutes later, it was over. The clouds had moved over the ocean, and sunlight again swept the sand. It was as if the rain had never happened.
Those who fled the shower earlier gradually made their way back to the beach. They probably thought they had dodged a bullet, but I think they missed a blessing instead.
Those of us who stayed through the rain got something beyond a soaking; something deep and satisfying. We knew it was coming. That’s why we stayed.
If you don’t yet know the hidden benefits of getting caught in the rain, I hope you’ll soon let it happen to you. Stay on the beach. Or take that walk with a friend even when you know water is coming. Run a few miles more than the weather app says you can squeeze in while dry.
Be smart, of course, and don’t mess with thunder, storms or dangerous weather. But if it’s just water from the sky, give in to it. Relax, and let it show you a life that’s simple, pure and beautiful.
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Love this! Adventurous spirits seize opportunities as they come up, instead of fighting them! That was probably a pretty awesome opportunity to sit by the ocean and just watch nature. I’m dreaming of making a trip to the ocean, after the summer, probably in the fall, to enjoy the cooler air and be able to walk along the beaches.
Thanks! I love what you said about seizing opportunities as they come up instead of fighting. The beach is great any time of year to me but fall is my favorite.
In San Diego? That’s my destination I want to go to.
Yes, everything has the opportunity to be successful, and we won’t know if we pre-edit, right?!
Right 👍 I’ve never been to San Diego but I hear it’s a great place. I’m an East Coaster so the beach here is great in the fall because the weather cools off a bit and the kids are all in school 😁
Yes, I need to research that more for myself. I’m a transplanted East coaster too, and might be superimposing those experiences onto the west coast. My goal is to go at a time when the weather is cooler and not brutally hot!
It’s definitely a winning combo! 😎
That’s what I’m thinking! That’s for your feedback!
Wonderful observations on enjoying the wonder of nature. I wish now I could get caught in a rain storm! But rain does not fall easily nor often where I reside. And it is sorely needed. Perhaps I will do a rain dance 😃. Great blog!
Thanks Victoria! Wishing you many chances to get drenched in the coming weeks 🙂
Thanks Todd! May your wishes come to be soon 🔜
Love this!
Thanks! 🙂
Great post, and a good analogy for how to behave when changes happen as the world continues to crumble. Turn upward toward the sun, and inward toward the soul, and anticipate the return of light and sanity. Thanks!
Beautiful comment Julia- thanks!
Lovely! I used to fear spontaneity and uncertainty because I didn’t know how to deal with my feelings. The older I get, the fewer regrets I have about my spontaneous (mis)adventures. It’s great that you also embrace adventures without resisting them.
I love your phrase “spontaneous misadventures“. When I see that, it just reminds me of a whole bunch of things I probably should not have done, but did anyway. And even though they did not all turn out spectacular, most make for fun memories and some good stories.
Incredibly beautiful! My mind also envisioned laughter happening during all of this. What a blessing.
Thanks B- we did enjoy ourselves 🙂
Absolutely LOVED this piece, Todd–whether it was raining or shining!
Thank you so much Arthur! 🙂
🙂