A Cyclonic relief

I was in TN  last four days travelling and it was so hot. Everything seemed to simmer and a glass of cold water tastes heavenly on a hot summer day. Last two days however there were sporadic rains and today we drove through thick sheets of rain back to Bangalore. 

Wonderful! Year after year, the rains in summer pour down life giving streams of water. When it comes after a bout of scorching heat, one really wonders what will happen if the heat goes on relentlessly and what if the rains don't come? But it never fails. I relished getting wet with a cup of hot coffee outside one of the roadside coffee shops. Lovely combination, hot coffee & rains.

The timing may differ a little, the quantity may vary year on year but it rains. Immediately one can see the squirrels and the birds relishing the first few drops and then later when they get drenched they cut a sorry figure, huddling on the branches in the garden.

This year the rains have taken a fancy name. It is due to a cyclone named Laila. I don't know why they have to have a girlish name to typhoons and cyclones. 

The cyclone is expected to cross shore between Chennai & Andhra and millions of people are relieved from the heat while hundreds of people are evacuated to safer places. Nature plays out the same game every year and every year people lose their lives. Who can stop this vicious cycle of death due to rains? Isn't rain supposed to nurture lives? 

The rains also bring some hilarious moments, some due to just getting wet and some due to improvised protection from getting wet. Like this bus driver in Chennai...(Dinamalar.com) 

I seriously hope he manages to give priority to people /vehicles on the road rather than him getting wet....what must be going on in his mind for having to drive a bus full of passengers around that leaks right on him? Will the passengers also be facing similar issues? Interesting situation....isn't it?

குழந்தையும் குடையும்

நிற்பது உன் ஸ்டைல்

நடப்பது உன் ஸ்டைல்

குடை பிடிப்பது உன் ஸ்டைல்

'வளர்ந்த பெரியவர்' யார் என்று குடை பிடிக்கும் ஸ்டைலே காட்டுகிறதல்லவா?

Get Rain washed

It is raining in Bangalore;

I went to Cochin...it rained there;

and then I went to Chennai...

yes, you got it, it was raining there too...

...and in my mail, I got this wonderful message from Jeff Keller...about getting rainwashed!

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly.

Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.