Waking Up Me!

I love the sound of the rain. It comforts and quiets me. I even love the sound of thunder and the bright flashes of lightening. When the wind blows, I love the way it feels pushing against me. I run into it. I let it tenderly caress my skin. As the storm picks up and becomes violent, though, my pleasure turns to concern. I become distraught in the possibilities of what this could be turning into. I let my fears overtake me. The same can be said of when the storms of life start. At first, I may be able to handle it on my own. As the severity of the issues or the number of them multiply, I become overcome. I become overwhelmed. I need to set my sights on something greater than me. After the death of his beloved cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus attempts to go off on his own to pray and grieve privately. Instead, the masses follow after him and call to him. In his care and compassion for them, he joins them instead and heals their sick. As night falls, his disciples plan to send the peopl...