April 06th, 2017

Fall, winter and early spring have been very dry here.  This morning, however, big flashes of light, loud booms of thunder, and heavy rain.  A bit early for the wet season and we return to 0% chance of rain for the near future.  But it was good to see the light and hear the roar and listen to the rain pelting the windows.  It reminded me of some of my favorite quotes from Thomas Merton:  "Let me say this before rain becomes a utility that they can plan and distribute for money.  By 'they' I mean the people who cannot understand rain  is a festival, who do not appreciate its gratuity, who think that what has no price has no value, that what cannot be sold is not real, so that the only way to make something actual is to place it on the market.  The time will come when they will sell you even your rain. At the moment it is still free, and I am in it.  I celebrate its gratuity and it meaninglessness."  And, "Nobody started it, nobody is going to stop it.  It will talk as long as it wants, this rain.  As long as it talks I am going to listen."   So may we all . . .