During my first year of recovery I collected songs about rain because it dawned on me that the devestation of alcoholism on a family is a lot like rain. Rain is associated with sadness or misery sometimes just as alcoholism. What people forget is that rain also cleanses the earth. So hard times can also cleanse the spirit. I remembered all this this morning because it is raining. We've desperately needed the rain.

I've been doing a lot of spiritual studying the last 9 months. My whole curriculum of study has been on "Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Self." This morning I have a biblical reading that includes the rain in that context:

Matthew 5:43-46
You have heard that is was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless they who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

I also have a song.

I'm No Stranger to the Rain

As sung by Keith Whitley


I'm no stranger to the rain
I'm a friend of thunder
Friend, is it any wonder lightning strikes me
I've fought with the devil
Got down on his level
But I never gave in, so he gave up on me

I'm no stranger to the rain
I can spot bad weather
And I'm good at finding shelter in a downpour
I've been sacrificed by brothers
Crucified by lovers
But through it all I withstood the pain
I'm no stranger to the rain

Bridge:
But when I get that foggy feeling
When I'm feeling down
If I don't keep my head up, I may drown
But it's hard to keep believing
I'll even come out even
While the rain beats your hope in the ground
And tonight is really coming down

I'm no stranger to the rain
But there'll always be tomorrow
And I'll beg, steal, or borrow a little sunshine
And I'll put this cloud behind me
That's how the man designed me
To ride the wind and dance in a hurricane
I'm no stranger to the rain
Oh no, I'm no stranger to the rain