For Rain

I'm sure those in New England (where there has been much flooding) would not appreciate this posting these days, but I concurred with Fr. McGrath today when he expressed a hope that some rain might be coming. Like him I am a former U.C. Santa Barbarian -- in my case during an extended drought in which, the local paper reported, a secretary arrived at work one morning and exclaimed, "If we have one more day of clear blue sky and bright sun, I am going to scream!!!" (The paper did not report whether or not she actually carried through, it having been yet another day of clear blue sky and bright sun.)

We've been having more than our share of blue sky and warm sun -- temperatures zooming into the 80s, it's high summer already! This isn't exactly the climate that attracted this mossback to the Great Pacific Northwet.

And though the forecast says "rain," the weathermen have been spectacularly poor (i.e. optimistic) at predicting rain for Seattle. I suspect there is a bug in their computer weather models because we've been receiving rather less of our accustomed liquid sunshine than predicted.

On the other hand, our family has a bit of a busy weekend ahead with church events. Friday night is the Ladies' Arts & Crafts Social, Saturday morning the Mens' Group Breakfast, Fellowship and Work Party (featuring weed-whackers -- note to self, leave the electric at home but bring the gas-powered), Sunday Bible Study, Holy Communion and Vestry meeting.

Although we have a saying here, "If you're not willing to do it in the rain, you're not going to do it at all," experience says that whacking weeds with power tools is one thing rather a bit less pleasurable in the rain than otherwise. So maybe if the rain holds off the first part of Saturday it will be okay -- if it's not too hot.

O GOD, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to all those who seek thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance; Send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to thy honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday Update: The promised rain didn't arrive.