"...on earth, as it is in heaven." - A guest post by Kay Olson, CSB

Don’t like the weather?  “Wait a minute”. Capricious weather? "Mother Nature is at it again!" Hurricane?  "It’s an act of God”.

Nature and God often get a bad rap when it comes to the weather. That line about Mother Nature is kind of a joke, but many believe God is actually responsible for dangerous and destructive events. 

Although, some do reject that belief.  One Southern governor refused to sign an emergency relief bill until a reference to a damaging storm as an “act of God” was deleted. I cheered!

How can one think about the weather when it is imperative that weather be good for a garden (rain), for a parade (sun, but not too much), or for an outdoor wedding (perfect will do, thank you!)?

It was the latter that consumed my thought when we were planning a wedding for our oldest daughter.  It was to be held in the city’s beautiful Rose Garden. At one end of the acre of roses, was a delightful gazebo that was just right for the refreshments.  At the other end, a fountain gurgled into a little pool.  The wedding party would stand nearby.  Three violinists from the Symphony orchestra would provide music. 

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It was a perfect plan, except for one thing. There was no alternative place for guests in case of --- rain!

Every day a month before the wedding, we found ourselves checking the weather report, sometimes twice.  We thumbed through the Farmer’s Almanac. We were consumed with the subject of weather.

One day, it occurred to me that we were taking the “weather temperature” the way a worried mother would treat a child.  Up til now we had always tackled our challenges through prayer. Why not this one?

So we turned the TV weather reports off. We put the Farmer’s Almanac back on the shelf. As we prayed, we weren't thinking about controlling the weather; instead, we began to think spiritually about what God does for His creation, beginning with the Lord’s Prayer:  “…. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…”. 

Our prayers affirmed God’s will as good, always good, and always here – on earth – caring for us and for everyone else.  We expected our daily lives to be more “heavenly” because we were open to His good will. We loved knowing that harmony is His law and is never interrupted.

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Our prayer brought out unselfish motives, too. We wanted the farmer to have the rain if he needed it on the wedding day.  We wanted parades and picnics to have the sun and warm breezes to make their day perfect.  And, it was ok to expect our outdoor wedding to be rainless! 

When the day arrived, I stayed with these ideas.  Some friends went with me to set up the refreshments in the gazebo.  It was great fun. Then, I looked out.  It was raining. I thought “I don’t believe it”.  And, I didn’t. I knew that God's will alone is for good on earth as it is in heaven. So, we continued to prepare for guests, went home and dressed, returned to the garden, and waited.

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As the first guests arrived, the rain stopped. The sun came out.  The rain-drop studded roses sparkled. Strains of Beethoven and Mozart filled the air.  The wedding proceeded.

It was heavenly.

 Refreshments were served. Then, as the guests waved goodbye...
.. a gentle, sprinkling rain began to fall.
 
“My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, my words arrive like the morning dew, like a sprinkling rain on new grass, like spring showers on the garden……. Respond to the greatness of our God!  (Deuteronomy 32:2,3 The Message, Eugene Peterson)

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