Rainy day? Well done.

A strange noise woke me up this morning.  Thankfully, it wasn’t a “bump in the dark” or anything that sounded like an intruder.  It sounded like a motor of some sort.  It couldn’t be the furnace.  It couldn’t be the air conditioner.  The sump pump doesn’t run all the time (at least I hope it doesn’t!).  It isn’t the bathroom fan.  What is that?

I have no idea how long it took me to process all this in the muddled, early-morning fog of my mind.  Eventually, though, I figured it out.  It was the sound of a gentle rain.  

Later, when I took Sharon to school, I discovered it was a fairly heavy rain but there was no wind and each drop seemed to be more misty than globby - you know, the kind you get in a summer thunderstorm.  The sensation of the misty droplets was a pleasant sensation (but I don’t have curly hair that needs to be tamed in high humidity).

As an allergy sufferer, I’m thankful for this rain.  This will clean the air of pollen.  It also means I won’t need to water anything tonight or cut the grass because it will be too wet.  Life can’t be all sunshine, lollipops and unicorns!  Rainy days are also good days.

Since last winter, a major focus of out gatherings together as a church has been “living by faith.”  What does it mean and what does it look like for my faith to saturate and inform every part of my daily?  I’m not talking about the simplistic “pray the words and you are in, going to heaven, eagerly anticipating a celestial suburbia where a huge home on a golden street awaits you” faith.  I’m referring to the faith that prompts conversations about life, purpose, and God.  This is the faith that gives us courage to forgive, to love annoying people, to embrace deferred gratification of a Kingdom yet to come, to live as did those “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).  

The rain this morning reminded me of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 that “rain falls on the just and unjust” is familiar.  But what is the larger context of Jesus’ teaching?

Matthew records these words as part of Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount.”  Matthew documents Jesus’ definition of what it means to live by faith:

- to turn the other cheek;
- to be gentle with those who seek to hurt you;
- to go the extra mile (it has becomes a metaphor, but Jesus meant it literally when carrying someone’s burden);
- to give to the poor and help the disenfranchised;
- love your neighbour AND your enemy;
- pray for those who reject your faith and discriminate against you because of it.

That is an intimidating list.  I wish Jesus had said, “learn to study the Scriptures, lead Bible studies, become astute in theology, attend church, be generous, and above all, buy your pastor a coffee from time to time.”  (OK, that last one is just a little bit self-serving - but isn’t that Jesus’ point?)

Living by faith is others-centric.  It isn’t just “others” in the sense of our family, neighbours, co-workers, and strangers on the street.  Others-centric includes God Himself.  What is truly amazing about Jesus’ list is that it can be our reality.  The qualities of compassion, generosity, humility, love, and forgiveness are produced in us by the work of the Spirit of God!  Jesus wasn’t just talking ideals.  He knew this would be the reality of those who decided to follow Him.

Rainy days can act as a trigger to help us remember God’s faithfulness and goodness - and especially as we see that process happening in us individually and collectively.  That’s why Paul was thrilled to write to the church in Philippi and express his thanks to God for their ability to live by faith (Phil. 1:6).  

I echo Paul’s words.  I’m so thankful to see the work of the Spirit of God in the life of our church family.    There is a passion to be faithful that doesn’t come from simply being religious or spiritual.  We see the faithfulness of God expressed in both gratifying and challenging ways.  Those around us are being exposed to life in the Kingdom of God - even though they may not (yet!) realize it.  He who began a good work IS continuing it.

Doesn’t that make this an enjoyable rainy day?