Recently I attended a parade in my hometown. The parade route came very close to my house so all I had to do was walk out my back door and find a nice spot for my lawn chair. As I waited, I could hear the thunder of an approaching storm. Would all the candy throwing participants make it to my spot, I wondered? Alas, no, the rain came and I headed home. However, the parade went on and I came back a bit later, sporting my raincoat, to watch the end. Most everyone was soaked, but the kids were still hoping to rake in some good candy! They did, too with smiling faces and excitement.
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned. We map out our life, plan our days, envision our future, and inevitably, something happens. It’s like planning a fun parade, only for the skies to open up just as the first float turns the corner. Life rains on our parade.
Perhaps it’s a career setback, a relationship challenge, or even just a string of small, frustrating annoyances. The temptation is to pack up, go home and let the rain win. But what if the parade, despite the downpour, still needs to go on?
Even when the clouds gather and the thunder rumbles, we have a choice. Do we let the rain define our experience or do we remember the purpose of our parade? Scripture offers comfort in these times. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This doesn’t mean ignoring the rain. Rather, it means finding peace in it. We can choose to embrace the moment, dance in the puddles, find new ways to celebrate, and gather the candy. The parade may look different than we imagined, but its essence – the joy, the connection, the forward movement – remains. So, let the rain fall. Our parade, resilient and spirit-filled, will continue.
By Doug Johnson