As I listen in the dreamy halfway space between sleep and waking, I hear a sound that is music to my ears. Yes, rain at last! After a few days of unseasonable heatwave here, I feel like standing outside, letting drops trickle over me.
But I restrain myself, content to snooze and listen longer, allow refreshment to seep into my soul by the osmosis of imagination alone. Rain brings more than refreshment to earth’s cracked, dry and dying places, dusty ground and thirsty flowers.
it also soothes our ears like a lullaby, makes the air itself come alive as we breathe more freely. I appreciate the way my body reacts more favourably to lower temperatures, preferring the coolness of rain rather than heat. Joints ache less and fatigue is often not as acute as before.
[bctt tweet=”Because we all need room for our souls to breathe, to inhale fresh air of renewal, restoration”]
And today, as I listen beyond the splashing sounds, it brings thoughts which lend themselves well to poetry…
Listen to heaven’s heartbeat
I listen to the steady drumming
of the rain, hearing it bounce,
resound off ground and window pane
Listen harder for the heartbeat
of the universe, wrapped up in
rhythm, beating time like verse
Echoes of eternity are seen
in daily outpouring of grace
As I listen deeper I think
each drop reflects unstoppable
Love showered on us freely
from heaven above, touching flowers,
refreshing hearts, lavishly given
Each day offers opportunity
to harken to God’s call, listen
intently to Word spoken forth
as Voice causing tremors on earth,
stirring souls now in its thrall
And I find I ache inside
because my soul is parched
I need to listen, to receive
hints of God’s presence revealed
as life-giving water and seed
©JoyLenton2016
[bctt tweet=”Listening to God’s wondrous ways in the world sparks words and enhances gratitude”]
We are made weak with wonder the longer we pause and reflect on the myriad ways God seeks to claim our attention. Rain did that for me today.
What is speaking to you, my friend?
What helps you to hear God’s footprints in this world?
I’d love you to share in the comments below. I am truly thankful to be able to participate with the fabulous five-minute-friday writing crew this week after almost 3 months of absence. We gather together at our gracious host, Kate Motaung’s, site to share our offerings. Come join us? Just follow me here to read the great posts being shared.
Words of Joy 
Joy,
I SO enjoyed reading your #fmf today! So beautifully written- I feel the same way about rain! It makes me giddier than just about anything else! Like you, I also see God’s footprints in the world mainly through nature. When I watch the seasons change, the sky turn crazy colors and when the heavens rain down water– I can see God’ activity in our little world. After all, Creation worships Him too! 🙂
Happy Friday!
LikeLike
Hi Kaitlin. It’s good to meet you! I’m glad you feel the same about rain and seeing “God’s footprints in the world mainly through nature.” As an avid cloud watcher, I smiled at your words about the sky turning “crazy colors”, because it delights me, too. My husband thinks I’m mad when I go into raptures about the heavens, usually reaching for my camera/phone at the same time! May you continue to see and sense God’s presence as He breathes beauty in the everyday. Blessed you stopped by. Do come again! Have a blessed weekend, friend. 🙂
LikeLike
So beautiful to hear your words describing rain, Joy! They echoed deep in my heart. But then this: “We are made weak with wonder the longer we pause and reflect on the myriad ways God seeks to claim our attention,” really caused me to stop and think. I have loved the word “Wonder” for years–but to be made “weak with wonder?” I have lately been so absorbed in the side of weakness that feels unwanted, that I have forgotten the precious side that comes with the Wonder of God’s greatness. I want to pause more often and find that kind of weakness, where God becomes so great!. Thank you for this, Joy! –Blessings and Hugs my friend!
LikeLike
Dear Bettie. A life with chronic illness, pain and physical weakness can leach all the wonder out of our days, can’t it? It becomes a deliberate choice to turn our thoughts heavenward when sickness pervades so much. Please don’t chastise yourself for seeing “weak” mainly in terms of your health. I mainly view it that way as well. But now and then God surprises us with joy, awakens us to beauty, alerts us to sense the fingerprints of His love and become overwhelmed to the point of feeling weak with wonder. During seasons when we can barely cope with the things before our eyes, it can be hard to believe we can be overcome by God’s goodness and grace.
Maybe we feel it in little ways we haven’t named as such yet. Maybe He touches each one of us in individual ways that only we can comprehend. However it happens, you and I have an ability to be awed by God’s hand at work in our lives through creation and circumstance. Praying for you (and your husband) as you deal with the latest situation before you. May you be given all the strength, peace, comfort and healing you need. Blessings and hugs, my friend! xo
LikeLike
So fitting as it rained here last night and this morning. THIS: “it also soothes our ears like a lullaby, makes the air itself come alive as we breathe more freely.” Love that description. I’m in the 56 spot this week.
LikeLike
Tara, listening to rain can be so soothing, can’t it? Though I know heavy downpours are not always welcome, especially when accompanied by thunder storms! Thank you for stopping by. I loved your words, too. Bless you, friend. x
LikeLike
I am so grateful you received rain! We have plenty here for a change, but we have been through many seasons when ‘drought’ was the buzz-word! Thank you for sharing the lovely words of “Listen to Heaven’s Heartbeat”. I have been blessed here this evening.
LikeLike
Hi Linda. Rain is always well received when it has been scarce. We rarely have droughts here but we do tend to get a lot of rain sometimes. Thank you for reading and leaving a sweet comment. Blessed by your visit, friend!
LikeLike