puddles in the desert

You will never understand the saying "dogs are man's best friend" until you have a dog that not only understands you better than your fellow humans, but who longs to be with you as if you were the sole purpose for its existence.

Similarly, you will never understand common comparisons until you have lived both sides of the contrast.

I first experienced this eye-opening phenomenon when I was sitting in chapel at North Park University during my first Chicago winter.

It was the middle of February, quite possibly the dreariest time of the year in Chi Town, when a local pastor came to preach to us.

He spoke passionately about the coming of Easter and compared it to the coming of spring.

Now, wherever you are, spring is a beautiful time!

You see the baby animals.

You smell the fresh flowers.

You obtain an uncommon drive to clean your apartment...

But man oh man, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who appreciates the coming of spring more than a Midwesterner during the month of February.

When this pastor then linked this longing for spring to the coming of Christ, it clicked for me.

Wow! The coming of Christ...

That's incredible!

It is so welcomed after this cold, dark, miserable Christ-less time.

Jesus, the son of God.

Spring, the sun given to us from God.

What gifts.

I have recently experienced another lovely awakening to the reality of a common phrase.

Let me tell you this: you will never understand any rain analogies to their completion until you live in a desert.

Similarly to the coming of spring, the coming of rain brings such a clean, cool, new and absolutely needed comfort to such a dry place.

Granite, the rain practically evaporates as soon as it hits the ground...

But it is so desperately needed that the entire atmosphere changes.

I am not speaking merely of the change from dry heat to humidity.

I am speaking of the energy that surrounds this land.

The people's hearts begin to glow.

Their smiles begin to gleam.

Their walks begin to skip.

And

a deep sigh of relief is collectively uttered.

This is what we have been waiting so earnestly for...

it is here.

It is joyfully received.

It is fresh.

Drip.
Drop.
Drip.

Isaiah 53.