It's raining. It's pouring.
You get to decide if you are a half empty or half full person here.
The gloom and gray can overtake you.
Maybe you'll let it, if only for a little while.
Or…
Maybe it will last, drenching your soul.
Try as you might you can't keep it out from under your umbrella.
Try as you might you can't keep it from running into your goulashes.
Your hair will frizz and your eyelashes will dribble.
You won't be convinced that God means to make good on
"I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."*
Or…
You might be able to pull off your soggy shoes and your floppy hat
And toss them aside
And enter that sheet of sopping sorrow
With hands outstretched
Eyes closed
Facing the heavens
Cup overflowing
Saying, "Bring it!"
Maybe this flood won't destroy the earth.
Maybe it doesn't even have the power to destroy you.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.**
Remember… you are loved so much and so intensely
That floods cannot possibly drown you
Even while you feel you are going under…
Because hands will reach for you
Love will anchor you
Hope will breathe for you
Hearts will harbor you
Until the time comes - and oh, it will most certainly come -
When the skies part and the sun comes home. Amen.

mother mary, full of grace, awaken
all our homes are gone, our loved ones taken
taken by the sea
mother mary, calm our fears, have mercy
drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy
hear our mournful plea
our world has been shaken
we wander our homelands forsaken
in the dark night of the soul
bring some comfort to us all
oh mother mary come and carry us in your embrace
that our sorrows may be faced
mary, fill the glass to overflowing
illuminate the path where we are going
- eliza gilkyson, "requiem"

In Wisdom,
Brandi Calhoun Diamond

*Gen. 9:11
**Song of Songs 8:7a