Chapter 91

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet." ~ Bob Marley

It’s a matter of perspective and engagement. Everyone has felt the enjoyment of walking in the rain or in my case riding my bicycle in the rain. Usually this happens when it is above 80 degrees and the rain is warm and delightful. That’s when you want to throw your arms up into the air and take it all in and enjoy every drop. Of course in those temperatures, you will dry out quickly and be able to continue on with your day, having felt the healing touch of the rain falling from the sky. You can see it for what it is - a temporary pleasure that comes occasionally and one that leaves wonderful blessings in its wake. And I will admit here, that this most often happens to me in Asia. If you can’t embrace the rain and wet in Asia, you are generally going to be unhappy all the time.

But when the rain is freezing cold and outside temperature is cold and the pleasure is difficult to find, and you will never dry out and ... well ... you just get wet on those days. Those days are where an umbrella is more important than the rain. It’s about 45 degrees here In Pennsylvania today and windy, it feels about 34 degrees outside, and its going to rain. That will not be a pleasing rain to me, because it is just too cold period. The rain will be driven by the wind too, so the impact will be hard and unpleasant as well. Today is a just get wet day.

Perspective, context and engagement make it wet or make it rain. That is how life operates. Some things you can control and some things you cannot control. Be aware of which ones are which.