Rain and Sun
The photo above is a picture of an overcast and rainy day in northern Maine
Rain and sun are two diametrically-opposed forces in the universe and man needs both of them to survive. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that they have been mentioned in song and verse so frequently.
One armchair philosopher thinks that life is about learning to “dance in the rain.” Of course, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair thought the same thing, years ago, and produced a song, “Dancin’ in the Rain.” (”What a wonderful feeling, I’m happy again.”)
In the late twentieth century, the statement was made that “Rainy day people never let you down.” Judy Garland made “Over the Rainbow” a hit song, via the movie “Wizard of Oz.”
Here is a brighter picture of the north country, when the sun shone on the autumn leaves.
No matter how much “rain” there is in our lives, we can rest assured that the sun will always come out again. John Denver sang, “Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy.” Another songwriter wrote, “Here Comes the Sun,” and yet another penned the words, “Walkin’ on Sunshine.”
We do not have to look long or think hard to find other songs that mention rain or sun. However, it seems that we always have either too much rain or too much sun, in terms of the land and growing crops.
Turning to financial matters, my father always encouraged people to “save for a rainy day.” At the time he organized Credit Unions, Cuna Mutual Insurance Company’s logo was a little man carrying an umbrella.
No matter how carefully we plan our lives, the unexpected, but sometimes, not quite so unexpected, happens. Dad always thought that people should have a financial “cushion,” as he put it.
He was good at dispensing advice that he could not easily follow himself, due to financial commitments to his family. His little bit of savings was quickly eaten up by the cost of a lingering illness. We can’t always outsmart circumstance.
While rain may symbolize hardship, struggle, sadness and grief, sunshine represents new beginnings and a light heart. It is easy to see how and why the images of rain and sun are both incorporated into music lyrics.
Today, it is raining. As I sit here, writing this note, I can’t help but think of the Eagle we watched, all hunkered down, sitting on a beach in northern Maine. His feathers were soaking wet and he was so “into himself,” he was almost unrecognizable as one of his kind. Then, the sun suddenly appears. He spread his wings and took to the sky – up, up, up, circling into the distance, where we quickly lost sight of him.
Wherever you are on this day, if it is raining outside, or if you are troubled, know in your heart of hearts that a better day awaits. We must never feel defeated by exterior circumstances that we cannot control, whether it is the rain, or the economy, or personal losses. There is a higher purpose to our lives and we are called to be all that we can be.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
