Weather
Laughing kookaburras woke me at daybreak. Feeling rested, I got up and took my morning walk to the park. The white duck and the two brown ducks, hungry as usual, noticed me from afar and waddled towards me. My stopping by the pond to feed them quickly attracted other birds – swamp hens, turtle doves, ibises, mynas, and even a butcher bird or two. By this time, the sun’s edge appeared above the horizon. The whole scene was inspiring – the rising sun, clear blue sky, cool summer breeze, chirping birds, and glistening water surface. It felt great to be alive – full of energy and motivated to go about the day’s tasks.
A few days later, a cloudy morning sky greeted me outside. Rain didn’t seem imminent, so I risked my walk without an umbrella. As I reached the pond, a shower came down, but luckily, I could wait it out under a picnic area shelter. I fed the birds, and when the rain stopped, continued my walk around the pond. The sun was now peeking out and the weather looked cheerier. As I reached the other side of the pond however, another shower came – this time heavier than the first one. With nowhere to hide, I walked on through it, arriving home dripping wet. Getting drenched that summer morning posed no big problem. Far worse would have been if it happened on the way to work or somewhere important.
Weather can inspire us, be unpleasant but tolerable, or cause significant problems. Its effects range from beneficial to frighteningly destructive. It affects our emotions and level of energy. With a gray sky and drizzle, the world outside looks dreary and inside lights may need to be switched on. A feeling of gloom, tiredness or lethargy may set in. While rain is vital for life, sometimes too much comes too fast. With heavy rain, water can quickly build up, causing flash floods that sweep away all that lies in their path.
A rain storm accompanied by fierce winds or large hail can break or uproot trees, bring down power lines, and damage buildings. A tornado roaring through an area may leave behind untold devastation. An electrical storm with its spectacular display of bright lightning and deafening thunder creates both awe and fear. Snow gives the countryside an impression of cleanliness, purity and peace, but excess snow produces havoc on roads and may cause roofs to cave in.
The various weather patterns compare to seasons of life. Even language draws these parallels. Fine weather is like times when all is well – periods of productivity, contentment and peace. Gathering clouds picture times of potential trouble, and storms are times of crisis, when devastating losses may occur. On occasion, black clouds on the horizon pass by or disperse without a storm. Therefore, while responsible concern and prudence are good, excessive worry about possible problems tends to be unproductive.
Every life includes a share of both good and bad seasons. To hope for a life without problems and challenges is naive, just like it would be unrealistic to expect perfect weather all the time. Even in difficulties, however, one can always look for and be grateful for the good things, and anticipate that as in nature, each life storm will pass and the sun will shine again.
In some areas, the climate is such that weather itself causes many hardships. Parts of Asia, for example, are subject to severe annual flooding and the south-east coast of the United States and the Caribbean islands are subjected to one or more destructive hurricanes every year. By contrast, central and eastern Europe seldom experiences violent weather.
Just like some regions of the world get more severe weather than others, the number and type of storms in individual lives also varies. No one’s life is problem free, but some people suffer more than others. The reasons may include unwise decisions, genetic factors, environmental factors, and more. Some would also add the consequences of what one did in a past life or lives.
Ultimately, all the reasons for why some suffer in indescribable ways, while others have relatively easy lives remain at this time part of the divine mystery. However, every trying situation is an opportunity for learning lessons, and growing in faith, patience, perseverance, determination, forgiveness, compassion, and other valuable character qualities.{56}
The Scriptures use weather phenomena as analogies or metaphors for spiritual realities. Jesus Christ is referred to as the Sun of righteousness and his glorified face is said to shine as the sun in full strength. Like the sunshine on a cloudless day which gives us light and life giving energy, God is the source of life, light and love. Through Jesus Christ, humans are empowered to live virtuous lives – they not only desire to obey God but have the power to overcome their undesirable traits and habits. God in his mercy, compassion and impartiality causes the sun to shine on both the just and the unjust.{57}
Rain in due season is a blessing. It brings refreshment on a hot day; provides life giving water for flora and fauna; and is vital for food production. Lack of rain or unseasonal rain eventually leads to food shortages and famine. {58}
Rainstorms can symbolize times of testing. For instance, a series of setbacks and trials can beat on one’s spiritual house, testing the strength of its foundation. In the Old Testament, a flood is also a symbol of judgment. The Bible relates a story of God having used a cataclysmic flood to destroy humankind after all had become corrupt. Only one just man, Noah, was spared with his family. Starting over again with one family and a few animals, God made a covenant with the earth that a widespread flood would never again devastate the world. The rainbow is a sign of that covenant.{59}
Based on the Scriptures, hail is also God’s means of judgment. It constituted one of the ten plagues on Egypt before the Israelite exodus. Accompanied by thunder and lightning, the plague of hail caused terror and devastation. During their history, the Israelites also experienced discipline through hail when they refused to obey God. In the symbolic book of Revelation at the end of the Bible, hail is mentioned in futuristic prophecies as a part of severe plagues on the earth before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Hailstones of extraordinary weight and magnitude are described, which will terrify humans defiant against God. This period of unprecedented trouble prior to Christ’s return is referred to as the day of the Lord, and is metaphorically characterized by darkness, clouds and gloominess.{60}
Weather is a daily, hour by hour, minute by minute natural phenomenon. We experience it no matter where we are or what we do. There is no escape from it and little control over it. It affects our moods and feelings and is the subject of our conversations. Meteorologists can predict weather patterns and warn of violent weather before it happens. Nevertheless, weather is determined by natural laws interacting in complex ways on the planet. Ultimately, weather and the laws governing it are under the control of higher powers.{61}
On the one hand, humans have no option but to adapt to the weather and learn lessons from it. On the other hand, some human choices influence the weather and climate. One of the great present concerns is how to halt the increasing effects of manmade pollution and global warming. Environmental experts and others are discussing the worldwide climate problems and realizing the interconnection and interdependence of all things. They are recognizing the need to safeguard the natural environment, to stop exploiting nature, and to practice responsible stewardship with future generations in mind. All agree that something needs to be done before it is too late. Some see that greed of a minority can no longer be allowed to motivate what is globally done with little regard for what effects it has on the other side of the planet.
While environmentalists are justifiably concerned and even worried about future human survival, the message of Scripture tells us that humankind will not destroy itself. Even though the Bible prophesies a time of unprecedented global trouble before Jesus Christ’s second coming, God also promises intervention and deliverance. Today, dark clouds are gathering on the horizon for a devastating worldwide storm in the end time. However, the risen Christ is destined to save humans from self-destruction, renew the planet to historically unremembered beauty, as well as change human hearts and nature. Global destruction, wars and suffering will one day cease forever and a new bright age will dawn.{62}
