Where is the Rain?

This morning, as I sit in the coffee shop, I am disturbed by the lack of rain in our region. Having experienced droughts in the past, I generally do not get too caught up in the rampant discussions of dry weather and the consequences of a lack of rain. This topic becomes a kind of "safe" topic for social settings, a topic that concerns everyone alike, and of which there is only one solution, and nobody to blame. Unlike politics, religion, education, music, food, movies, television, clothing, or any number of other topics, the weather is one of the easiest subjects to discuss and becomes a sort of unifying connection of synchronicity in groups large or small.

Normally, partly due to my contrarian personality, I am quickly uninterested in discussions of the weather and generally avoid participating. I find myself smiling and nodding and showing my peripheral support of whatever is being said about the weather. Of course, who could do otherwise? Everyone agrees that hot weather is miserable, cold weather is miserable, too much rain is a problem and not enough rain is a problem.

So why am I suddenly concerned about the lack of rain? I suppose it is partly economic. The downturn of the economy and the dramatic slide of the stock market seem strangely related to our lack of rain. Obviously the two are totally unrelated and to associate these two events is absurd. Yet, part of me feels a connection of some kind. The market is making a correction of too much quick growth the last few years. While the weather is indiscriminate, and cannot be manipulated by man, in some ways, the weather almost seems to have made a decision to correct itself as well.

Weather problems force us to react. It is difficult, nearly impossible, to predict weather other than in short bursts of time. This creates a reactive situation and a psychological waiting for something better. Meanwhile, people try to deal with the situation as well as possible with some measure of prevention and protection. Because there is not much we can do about the problem, we simply hope for the best and deal with whatever situation is at hand. Weather can create great economic challenges to farmers, ranchers, institutions, and small businesses, all of which trickles or maybe even floods to everyone directly or indirectly.

Back to the lack of rain. The dry weather is a serious situation right now. Tanks are low or dry, cracks in the ground are large, the fire hazard is extreme, and the lack of water for animals is of great concern everywhere. This creates an economic situation that at first seems rather benign, but upon closer examination is actually of a serious nature and cannot be ignored.

Of optimistic spirit, I believe rain is around the corner for us, and I also believe the market will hit the bottom and begin a long, and probably slow, climb upward. The rain will fall and give us, the land and the animals, moisture for our parched world. All will be well and we may learn to appreciate the good times as well as the bad. We become stronger and hopefully wiser from our difficult times and somehow weather seems to exemplify the up and down of our economy and perhaps our lives. In the end, there is not much we can do other than work hard and trust in God.