On Wings of Prayer

A huge, heartfelt Thank You to all of you who were praying us home!  It was a hard trip, but I could tell that God was carrying us the whole way.  I'll give a little summary:

We put the kids to bed at their usual time, then woke them at 10:25pm for our scheduled 10:30 drive to the airport.  Jack woke excited, and Safita happy.  Owen was going to drive us (me, the kids, and my brother Sam) in our rental car with all the luggage, but the luggage kind of took over the car.  One of the other fellows from ACOR--James--turned out to be on our same flight to Paris, and offered to let us ride with him in his taxi, which was our first lifesaver.  The taxi driver wasn't terribly reliable, however, and showed up half an hour late, then proceeded to take the busiest roads out of the city and also drive between 10-20 km under the speed limit (which is extra crazy in Amman) the entire way to the airport.  We were seriously concerned we were going to miss our flight.  He kept trying to have us promise to call him when we come back to Jordan, but I was like, "Yeah right!  As far as I can help it, I will never use you again!"

Owen helped us inside with the bags; it was sad to say goodbye.  We went through the usual chaos of unpacking & undressing then repacking & redressing for security, and got to check-in to meet Sam there who informed me (somewhat frantically, since we were so late) that I needed to repack all my bags because they were overweight.  He had checked in with a different person, however, and much praise to the Lord, the lady who checked me in let the extra kilo or two pass with no fee (and no repacking of bags!).  I think people are kinder when they see you laden with children.

Immigration provided more excitement, when we discovered that our visas had only been extended through August 25th instead of the 30th.  I'm not sure who was responsible for that, but there was a fine and they only accepted Jordanian Dinar cash...which I didn't have, because I left it all with Owen.  If I'd had to find an ATM to get the money, we would've missed our flight.  But, exactly at the right moment, our friend James had seen me at the cashier's counter and came to see if everything was okay, and without even being asked whipped out some cash to save us.

We went through another line of security and made it to our gate just in time to board.

The first flight to Paris was about 5 hours...Safita fell asleep right away, but Jack was too excited and waited halfway through the flight to sleep.  I had to wake him to get off the plane.  Both of them were exceptional. 

We arrived in Paris at 5:15am to face a long 8-hour layover...in a very uncomfortable airport.  People had warned us that the airport was cold and there was no food.  We found this to be true, with one exception: there was food, but it was so overpriced who could pay for it?  A small bottle of water for 5 EUR (a little over $7 USD), a small slice of pizza for 6 EUR, a small piece of lasagna for 10 EUR, etc.  Also, going through security, a businessman wasn't watching and tripped over Jack, and instead of apologizing for nearly hurting my small child, looked at me angrily like "how dare your child get in my way" and started chastising the security personnel in French.  Oh, French people.  This incident was my first culture shock episode...so different than children-loving Jordanians.  The kids did not sleep at all during the layover but were in surprisingly happy spirits, for being tired and having no food.  Jack occupied himself by playing with his toy airplane and climbing on the furniture, and Safita just hung out contentedly.  They made themselves giggle every so often.  The time, fortunately, did not drag on endlessly as it sometimes can under those circumstances.

For the Paris-Detroit flight, the boarding line was ridiculously long, but to my delight I was waved to the front of the line.  Flight attendants on the plane swarmed me to help me get settled...which actually was a bit overwhelming at the time and caused the kids to become stressed out and both were wailing uncontrollably.  Jack also disappeared  shortly after we got to our seats, and we discovered him across the aisle making himself comfortable at a nice window seat.  He was heartbroken that he wasn't allowed to stay.  Sam did not have a seat next to us on this flight, but it worked out okay as the people next to us (in the 4-seat middle section of the plane) were a sweet, young, Indian couple who proactively helped me with the kids the entire flight.  The girl was the sweetest thing, even Safita went to her and stayed with her while I changed Jack's diaper in the bathroom, and never cried.  They even advocated for me with the flight attendants to find me a space where I could spread out with the kids instead of being cramped there, but to no avail.

On this flight, after we'd gotten settled, Jack curled up in his seat and fell asleep before the plane even took off.  Safita fought it a little bit longer, but was asleep shortly after takeoff.  Both slept for a solid 4 hours, and then were happy and good for the remaining 4.  The flight attendants were so helpful, as well--one of them even took the time while serving a meal to open all of the sealed coverings on the food for me, because she saw that I had no free hands.  At one point in the flight, I was feeling so moved and grateful for God's goodness that I couldn't help but weep.  Upon landing, everyone around us gushed with compliments about the children, how beautiful, how good, how happy...and someone also said their mother was a saint, ha ha, which was kind and nice to hear. 

We got through customs fine, and a porter was there to help us with the bags; one bag was missing, but we're hopeful for it's quick return.  We got some dinner, then the kids and I fell right to sleep for the 5 hour drive to my parent's home.  Amazingly, the kids also slept normally through the night and seem to not be struggling with jet lag at all.

Truly, God has blessed our trip.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Turkish baths are something that have always intrigued me, though for some reason I have never actively sought out experiencing one. 

Today, however, I was invited to go...and, having been given Owen's blessing, happily took advantage of a much-needed break from 24/7/365 mothering and a chance to pamper myself in the company of friends. 

It did not disappoint.

After stripping down to the bare essentials, you pass through a small doorway to enter the baths.  This first step is amazing, especially if it's your first time experiencing a Turkish bath, because it transports you to an era long ago...How do I describe it in words when it's all about atmosphere?

Here's my best shot: There is one central vaulted ceiling, pierced by a scattering of small stained-glass skylights, which highlight the alluring, lighted, raised stone hot tub below it.  The tub, filled with warm, crystalline, turquoise waters, practically glows, as if it's perfectly aware of the beautiful union unfolding above it...the union of its own warm, rising mist intertwining itself with the soft green, red, blue, yellow lights sifting down through the stained glass above.  The sight is mesmerizing.  Surrounding this central focal point are numerous other sections, the whole room open yet separated into cozy areas by a series of arches and vaults (though none as high as the central vault).  These areas house marble slab tables for exfoliation and massage, showers, a warmed marble bench, and saunas.  The entire bath is dimly lit by ornate hanging iron lamps (which I am desperate to get my hands on!), which play off the flirting steam and cast patterned shadows to dance upon the walls.  The focal point of the whole place, by layout as well as by lighting, is the warm pool in the center.

The way it works is this: You first rinse off in the showers, then head to the sauna to relax.  There are 2 levels to this vaulted, stone sauna--an upper and a lower.  The upper section has a visible steam cloud that descends lower as it gets hotter, and is at least about 20 degrees "warmer" than the lower section.  Being stone, the steam collects on the ceiling as condensation, and drips extremely hot water periodically, which keeps you alert!  After a few minutes, a lady brings a tray of iced hibiscus tea to aid in hydration.

A soak in that glorified hot tub is next on the agenda...after which they call you out one by one for a full-body exfoliation.  This was a new experience for me: they have you lie down on an un-padded marble table (we decided it kind of felt like laying yourself upon an altar), then don their exfoliating mitts and scrub away, with intermittent rinses from water that runs nearby (in troughs? I'm not sure, I forgot to look).  It was shocking, really, what came off!  But boy, was our skin smooth afterward! 

The highlight came next: a full-body olive oil massage (again on one of those marble tables, but this time padded).  At the end, we showered off, received a Dead Sea mud mask, and finished it off with another sit in the sauna. 

I so badly wish I could have taken pictures, but due to the nature of the baths, it just isn't...well, modest...to be taking pictures.  It was interesting to me, however, to discover that there is just one bath area, and they have separate hours for men and women.  I assumed they would have 2 sections and be open to either gender.  At the place where we went, the women's hours are in the day, and the men's hours are in the evening.

I envision another Turkish bathing experience in my future.

A Happy, Harried Day

We decided to tackle a shopping trip today, to the main souk (market) in downtown Amman.  It's less of a "souk" in the sense of open-air market and more of a centralized shopping area with tons of tiny shops all crammed back to back over several streets.  The shops seem to be organized by items sold: there's a street of scarves, a street of clothes, a street of toys, a street of mechanical needs, etc.  The main goal was to find the street of fabric shops...we did not find a whole street lined with said shops, but we did find several within a close vicinity, and got some beautiful prints (well, we think so, at least!).  I'm excited to delve into these projects when I get home!  I was hoping for a few more Middle-Eastern prints, but the ones available were...well, kind of ugly.  Oh well.  I'm happy with what we came away with. 

sheer fabric...perhaps matching skirts/dresses for me and Fia?

sheer fabric...an undecided something for Fia

turquoise seems to be a popular color here, and I love how they use it; this is not quite what I had in mind, but I'll use it!

The fabric store shopkeepers were all middle-aged men, which was funny but not out of place here, and added to the fun experience of buying fabric in another country.

We also happened across an amazing little store called "City Rose Souvenirs"...wish I would have thought to bring the camera, because the store itself was a delight to the eyes.  And the prices were so reasonable!  We found a trove of treasures from our "Jordan wish list" there, and had them all piled up at the front counter, ready to pay...when we realized to our horror that the money we thought we had brought was not, in fact, anywhere to be found.  As we were scrambling for what to do, we asked if they could hold it all for us while we went to get our money and come back.  It was extra confusing because our day was already jam-packed and there really was no time for coming back.  They counter-offered that we should just take it all with us, and come back to pay later.  No matter how many times this happens, it always takes me by surprise--it's so trusting!  We offered to just leave it all there until we came back, or to give them the money we did have, or to leave our phone number, but they refused it all and insisted that we just take our purchases and pay later.  Amazing!

my favorite buy: it's a hanging candle-lamp

isn't is gorgeous?  and so reasonably priced!

It took us 2 hours to wind our way out of downtown, a combined issue of terrible traffic and getting lost.  For some reason, we can never seem to find our way out of what I've come to think of as "the black hole" (city center).  And then I thought, it was extra trusting of those shopkeepers to have such faith in us that we could even find their shop again!  Maybe they thought of that after we left, as they did seem happy (surprised, even?) to see me again.  But thanks be to God, I did; and even more thanks to God (and the shopkeeper's directions), I found my way out in about 5 minutes! 

The days here have been over 100F lately--sweltering!  So today we had a refreshing invitation from some friends who work at the US Embassy in the swanky part of town to come swim with them at the embassy pool.  The embassy is like a fortress, or a town to itself, and everything inside is kept up really nicely.  After a harried (though good) day, soaked with sweat, it was delightful to dip into the refreshing water and just float awhile. 

The Driving Dance

I've mentioned before some of the quirks of driving in Amman and in the Middle East in general.  The crazy and seemingly senseless "rules of the road" (or should we say lack of rules!) has recently again been making an impression on me, and so I am inspired to write a list of all the crazy things we've observed people doing (and have even done ourselves...you know, we've got to try to fit in!):

not a great example, but it's all I've got!

• Driving is very fluid, much like driving a boat.  Individual cars, lanes, and traffic general just kind of float about with no rigidity or constrainment of lanes.  It is quite common for cars to create their own lanes, wherever they might wish to drive.  
• Driving is very aggressive and requires you to be constantly on the offensive.  It actually reminds me quite a bit of a video game, where things keep flying at you out of nowhere and you have to be quick on your feet to dodge all the assaults. 
• Dodging the pedestrians can be more of a challenge than navigating crazy cars.  There seems to be no thought for cause and effect of one's personal behavior...as in, "If I step out right in front of this quickly moving car, it will have to swerve to miss me, which may cause it to hit another car," etc.  That's right.  Pedestrians.  They are a huge problem.  As aggressive as cars drive is as sauntering as pedestrians cross the street.  They just step out and mosey amidst the traffic without looking, loitering about in the road while cars whiz by, not caring that they might be in the way or creating a hazard for themselves and others.  It's like the road is their favorite place to hang out.  I've watched a person or two saunter out right in front of a car, then just kind of stop and hang out there in the car's way (all on a busy road, mind you), and when the car beeps at the person to move, he will actually get upset, as if he--the pedestrian--has the right of way to loiter in the road. 
• Speaking of right of ways, I have not detected that any exist.  The right of way belongs to he who has the most chutzpah.
• Cars often seem to appear as if solidifying from mist out of the mere pavement...This situation results from a couple of behaviors: 1) cars parked on the side of the road will take off with no warning directly into oncoming traffic, they do not look before driving; 2) cars entering a road from a cross street do not stop and look before entering the road, they just kind of barrel out.  The point being, again: traffic is fluid.  No one stops.  Not even when they should.  Everyone just adjusts. 
• It is a regular practice for cars to back up into oncoming traffic, especially when reversing out of a parking spot.  Sometimes they will drive in reverse a surprising distance against the flow of traffic.  Sometimes they will drive the wrong way in a one-way.  Everything goes. 
• The trouble is mostly that most businesses on main roads have no actual parking, so the cars are essentially parking willy-nilly on the road, often a few cars deep.  I've seen a whole line of cars parked right in the middle of a heavily-used road--can you imagine driving along, and all of the sudden just stopping and parking your car in the center of the road?  It happens here.  I guess, why not?
• Traffic circles are really popular here, which is great...except that no one knows how to use them.  Instead of enabling traffic to move efficiently through an intersection, they most often create a quagmire.  For some reason, upon entering the circle, cars want to go directly to the inside lane, only to have to cut out through several lanes of traffic almost immediately.  It's a mess of confusion.  Sometimes, there are policemen directing traffic, but that only seems to make things worse.  Owen has discovered that if you stay on the far outside, you can take advantage of everyone's confusion and cut around them all. 
• Brake lights are not required, and so at least half the cars on the road don't have them.  This is very hazardous. 
• Blinkers aren't often used, especially not for lane changes (since, as we've discussed, there aren't really lanes in a functional sense).  In most cases, blinkers = weakness, and alert people that they can cut you off.  If they know what you're going to do, it's all the easier to get there first. 
• On some roads, no one pays attention to red lights.
• It is popular to use a turn lane to cut in front of a long line of cars.
• Beyond the last point, it is also popular to go a step further and use the oncoming traffic's lanes to cut around both the line of cars and turning lane of cars cutting in front of the line of cars...so that the oncoming traffic has to squeeze through on their shoulder of the road.  Surprisingly, people don't seem to get upset by this. 
• I especially love how they negotiate left turns so that 2 cars can turn left at the same time (much like 2 cars can safely turn right at the same time): At the intersection, the car turning left out onto the cross road will stay toward the middle of his lane, while the car from the cross road turning left onto the side road will cut to the right side of the other car...That sounds like a confusing description; but anyway, it works.  
• Police don't pull cars over while driving.  They flag them over while stopped on the side of the road.  They also drive really nice Audi A6's.

a traffic circle (not my photo)

Driving is an art.  There seem to be no rules, yet everyone seems to know how to "dance" with traffic.  Those who don't "dance" and are too cautious are the ones in real danger. 

Chaotic?  Absolutely.  Efficient?  The antithesis.  And yet, somehow, it works. 

Some things about the way they drive I like.  For example, I like that we just look normal when we don't know where we're going and pull crazy maneuvers.  I kind of like the freedom and fluidity of movement, and that it's okay to pass slow people on the shoulder or in the opposing traffic's lane...I just hope I haven't picked up too many bad habits!

Highlights of Lebanon: Day 1

Here are some of the more memorable highlights of our recent trip to Lebanon:

aerial view of Beirut & Mediterranean coastline

Monday morning we hopped on a 40-minute flight from Amman to Beirut, which Jack enjoyed and Safita tolerated just fine.  At the Amman airport, it's the first time I've experienced going through a separate women-only security line...and, similar to bathrooms, there was a WAY longer line for the women than the men.  Is it just the nature of women that in any given location there are simply more of us than men?  Anyway, it turned out that they were part of a group of originally-Lebanese-now-Australians who were on a pilgrimage, and they were quite friendly.

our Almond Blooms Guesthouse room

When we arrived in Beirut, we picked up our rental car and made a mad dash through the crazy city traffic, somehow successfully navigating the labyrinth of roads to our guest house.  The guest house, however, was impossible to find--it was a very nondescript place down an alley of the old souk and had no signs whatsoever.   The neighbors down the street didn't even know where it was.  So, it was a tiny place, but the room was nice and it had an AMAZING view!

We got settled and changed, then went to the Dog River, which, apparently, was difficult to cross in antiquity, so all the conquering nations who passed bragged about their success with carvings on the rock cliff.  There are a whole range of inscriptions, from Assyrian and Egyptian to Napoleon to more modern French and Arab. 

this is what the Dog River looks like today

Napoleon's inscription, which he placed directly over a Ramses II inscription...so cocky (and unfortunate)

Left: Assyrian inscription, Right: another Ramses inscription

We ended the day at a delicious Italian restaurant, complete with fresh mint lemonade.  I could tell the kiddos were exhausted, because for bedtime Jack eagerly crawled into his bed, lay down, and fell asleep (it's NEVER that easy!).

Lebanon: Preliminary Thoughts

Last night we returned from a very quick but eventful trip to Lebanon!  The country is beautiful and we had a great time, but are all worn out from the rigorous itinerary we raced through.

on the airplane

It's funny how before we went, Jordan still seemed like a foreign country to me...Now that we're back from yet another country, Jordan seems strangely like home.  Before we went, I naively thought that driving couldn't possibly get more crazy than what we've already experienced here in Amman or years ago in Greece, but I was wrong--it most certainly can!  If driving in Amman is "every man for himself," then in Lebanon it's a big game of Russian roulette bumper cars. 

mountains of Lebanon from the plane

It also was fun to gain more perspective on which things are universal Middle Eastern-isms, and which are unique to each country.  Lebanon was #5 on my "Middle Eastern countries visited" list (and hopefully not my last!).  There are striking differences between Jordan and Lebanon, as well as striking similarities. 

Universal Traits of Middle Eastern Countries:

• friendliness and hospitality
• people are trusting, accommodating, helpful (We still haven't paid our hotel bill from Lebanon because we didn't realize we had to pay cash, but the owner said, "No problem; I'll email you my bank information and you can send the money after you get back."  So trusting!)
• poor waste management...translated: trash EVERYWHERE (In Sidon, they have a trash dump right on the shore of the Mediterranean!  Sad, sad, sad.)
• crazy driving
• focus on community rather than individual
• people LOVE children and are very assertive with their affection
• people always want their picture taken
• inefficient/non-stable electricity (my own opinion, may not be shared universally)
• healthy food consisting of vegetables, bread, and meats...tomato-cucumber salad is a staple

Differences Between Jordan and Lebanon:

• Lebanon has a strong French influence, evidenced in their architecture, language, prolific patisseries, relaxed dress code, and European culture.  Jordan, though definitely not lacking Western influence, still holds to a more conservative Arab culture.
• Lebanon is on the coast of the Mediterranean, so it has an abundance of water; contrasted to Jordan's desert-like quality and water poverty.    
• In Lebanon, it's easy to forget you're in the Middle East; not so in Jordan.  
• The water-orientation really seems to be key in Lebanon's liberalism, along with the lingering French influence.  As Owen has said, it seems like the coastal towns all the way down tend to be more influenced by what they face...namely, the West. 

More details on the trip to come!

view from our guesthouse window

These Little Piggies went to Market

We went to market!  The Abdali Market in Amman happens every Friday, and is like a huge flea market.  The large majority of wares are used clothing, shoes, purses, and toys, but they also have some random things like cooking knives and a hodge-podge of household items.

High view overlooking the tarp-covered market area.

Shoes!

It was a fun experience.  The air smells rightly of must, body odor, and nose-burning smoke.  Ringing across the market is a chorus of men shouting, advertising their goods.  The light underneath reflects the color of tarp above, so you find yourself wandering through red-tinged, green-tinged, blue-tinged light, with the occasional spotlight of bright sunshine glaring through the cracks.  The different sellers' areas all blend together so that it sometimes is quite unclear who is in charge of what, and it's like an endless maze of used STUFF...most of which strikes me as, well, junk.  Especially the toys.  They have tables and tables of toys, and almost every single one of them is broken and dirty.  But, it was fun to look through and laugh at surprising finds!  Like a Taco Bell toy--who knew it existed?

anybody know what this does?

However, we did find some great treasures!  Here's a look:

"Princess" pants, 3 JD (these are new, if anyone wants some, let me know--super light, super comfy!)

twirly skirt, 2 JD

vintage cute, or out-of-date ugly? well, I like it!  3 JD

knock-off "Sharpei" markers, 0.5 JD

knock-off Armani cologne, 2 JD (the real stuff is Georgio Armani "Acqua di gio" and costs around $70 for this size)

Next on our market list is to check out the main souk (market) in downtown Amman to hunt for pretty scarves and fabric (my mind is swimming with ideas of what to use it for!).

Fast Food Fitness

How's this for a get-in-shape plan: make a daily trip to McDonald's.

Owen had to attend a lecture with following reception tonight, so I ambitiously thought to treat Jack to a trip to McDonald's.  He's been talking about hamburgers quite often lately, but the biggest treat of the trip is the play area.  The trouble is, I always forget how L  O  N  G a walk it is until I'm committed. 

They call Amman the city of 7 hills...it's more like 7 million.  You can't get anywhere without climbing at least 2 hills, twice.  I've mostly given up with trying to use the stroller; it's just too difficult.  I find it easier to carry both children and whatever baggage we acquire along the way, kind of like a pack mule, if that says anything.  Safita gets strapped on front, and Jack either hitches a "horsie" ride on my back or is slung on my hip.  Of course, I encourage him to walk as much as he wishes, but he's often overwhelmed by the chaos and opts for a ride.  It didn't help that every other car that passed (or more) was an empty taxi beeping its seductive call: "Want a ride? Let me take you somewhere."  It felt like my own small wilderness temptation, and took every ounce of willpower to keep my hand from flying out in desperate "Hail, taxi!"  With steadfast resolve, we pressed on!

A greasy cheeseburger never tasted so good, after a workout like that.  We got one double cheeseburger from the McSaver's menu; Jack ate most of it, and I had only a few nibbles.  And then he got to play.  They even had a trampoline, to his great delight!

McDonald's may yet do its part to keep me in shape!

Rain, Rain, don’t go away!

It’s raining today in Amman—tiny, crystalline, life-giving droplets.  

In one of the most water-poor countries of the world, rain is not something to be looked down upon or appreciated lightly.  Because water is scarce, every household in Jordan is provided a weekly allotment of water.  If you run out before refill day, you’re done, so conservation is essential!  My selfish, grown-and-raised-in-the-land-of-plenty self—I hate to admit—gets sorely annoyed at this imposition…but my responsible, wanting-to-care-for-God’s-earth self thinks it’s invaluable to learn frugal consumption of our resources, especially such a necessary one. 

The water tanks at ACOR

I never realized how heavily we rely upon water until forced to think about being without it.  And so, in a land with limited water sources, every droplet of rain counts.  Rain feeds the plants and crops, which feed the livestock, which feed us.  Rain fills the cisterns and wadis, which fill the lakes and dams, which fill our household water tanks.  It’s a good day, when it rains.

So, not surprisingly, I think about water a lot—how important it is and how we couldn’t live without it, literally and figuratively.  Below, in list form, are some of my reflections on water:

• It Sustains our Physical Lives.  Human life, animal life, plant life—we all need it to survive.  Without it we shrivel, wilt, choke, and die.  Even most food recipes I can think of use water in some fashion and quantity.  Water also has powerful revival qualities, and quickly restores to life a fading being.   
• It is a Cleanser and Purifier.  We use it to wash our bodies, our clothes, our dishes, and just about everything else in domestic life.  We use it to flush the toilet, rinse our spit, and wash messes off the floor.  We also use it to cleanse a wound, dilute the effects of poisons, and flush our bodies of toxins. 
• It has Calming and Healing Properties.  Water is used in humidifiers to “heal” the blistering dry air in wintertime.  It is used by midwives to calm a laboring mother and baby.  It cools a burn. It makes our skin glow and radiate.  It possibly prevents cancer, heart disease, and other diseases (see this link).  Also see this link for other interesting facts about water.
• It Provides Relief and Recreation.  What is more refreshing on a hot day than to plunge into a pool of cool water? The best summer activities involve water.
• It has Preservation Properties.  We use it to can our vegetables, and other things.
• It Reveals things Buried.  Any seasoned treasure hunter can tell you that the best time to go searching for those Native American arrow heads or Roman coins or ancient pottery is directly after the rain.  The water washes away the buildup of dust and dirt and reveals the hidden treasures beneath. 
• It is Reflective.  With the right lighting, water can serve as a mirror, reflecting back whatever faces it.  
  
• It is Impartial.  It benefits all with the life it imbues with no stipulations of worthiness.  

It's little wonder, then, that Jesus used the analogy of water to relate Himself to us.  He sustains our spiritual lives; without Him we shrivel, wilt, choke, and die.  He cleanses and purifies us.  He calms and heals us.  He makes our spirits glow and radiate.  He refreshes us, and preserves us.  He sifts through our surface dust and dirt to reveal the hidden treasures within.  He is a reflecting mirror in whom our shortcomings become clear, but His perfection reflects back to cover us.  And His grace impartially benefits all, with no stipulations of worthiness; all we must do is ask.  

It rained inside today, too.  And I thought, these kinds of raindrops are also invaluable.  They bring with them the character staples of humility and repentance; they flush out the toxins of bad feelings and bring hope to try again.  Tears clean and lubricate our eyes just as they do our hearts.

Those are my thoughts on rain.