It rained at the campground. It wasn’t the first time it had rained on our forested haven, yet it was different this time. Whereas before a thunderstorm may have come and gone in a thirty minute span, or whereas before we may have heard rain hitting our tents while safely tucked in our cocoons, this time it was more. It tried to spit on us as we started the morning fire, gave us a steady rain while we squished under canopies before lunch, and hit our tents more than once overnight. The weatherman should have been hiding under his umbrella in embarrassment when his .08 predictions turned into more like .4.

But it wasn’t the rain I thought of that morning as I made my trek to the shower house, but the in between times. The times in the dark of night around the fire when laughter was heard, marshmallows were roasted, and conversation was light. The times when the sun came out, the sandy beach by the lake was enjoyed, and the wind blew in our faces as our bike wheels turned. The times when despite the rain, the pedal karts flew into our campsite with two grinning boys. 

It was all the meals we ate around the campfire and the oh so yummy food. The walks taken, the kayaks on the lake, the peels of children’s laughter. No, it wasn’t a drudgery for the rainy weather that particularly hit my heart that morning as I walked through the trees, but the in between moments of joy.

And I wonder if we could see life a little like this campground, how much different our hearts and minds would look. There will be rainy moments of course. We can’t deny that. But what if we saw life for the in between moments? Would we see the flowers God has strewn in our path instead of the rain? Would we feel the winds of God on our faces instead of drippy looks? Would we feel the sandy joys fall between our fingers instead of the muck and wet leaves? Would we find more wonder in the in between moments instead of wondering what the weather predictions for our lives will be?

Sitting in my tent, on my sleeping mat, with my bare feet on the floor, the morning is still beautiful. I hear the quiet conversation outside the tent and the crackle of the fire. And I do believe there is probably a pot of cowboy coffee awaiting me when I step outside my tent. In just a minute, I’m gonna go live my in between moments and I wish for you the same. That despite the rainy moments that have come and gone, despite the storms that are still sure to arise, that your heart can be happy. And even as I hear thunder in the distance, making me wonder if it’s gonna rain on our forested retreat once more, these in between moments are all I need to know that God is good, God is kind, and his mercies are everlasting.