12/01/2010

Into Each Life, Some Rain Must Fall













Into each life, some rain must fall,
But too much is falling in mine.
Into each heart, some tears must fall,
But some day the sun will shine.
Some folks can lose the blues in their hearts,
But when I think of you, another shower starts.
Into each life, some rain must fall,
But too much is falling in mine.


I don't know when I first heard that old song, recorded in 1944 as a duet by the late-great Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots, but I'm ever grateful that I did, for whenever I'm feeling truly blue, and sorry for myself, it worms its way into my head, and reminds me to put things into perspective.

Life is difficult.  That's a fact!  And, no matter how we try to sugar-coat those bitter pills, we still need to hold our collective noses, swallow hard, and take our medicine.

Americans today, seem to have a really hard time accepting this premise.  Rather than facing adversity head-on, and sailing directly through rough waters, they either retreat, drop anchor and pray the storm dissipates, or try to sail around the dark clouds.


Retreat is not the answer!  No matter how hard or how fast we run, the storm still follows.  Seeking shelter or safe harbor might seem like a good option, but what if none can be found?  Eventually the storm catches up, and swallows us.

Refusing to admit there's a problem, or dropping anchor out of fear, self-pity, remorse or grief, while praying for someone to stop the rain, doesn't seem a viable option either. The end result is usually death by drowning.  Its always best to remember that, the Lord helps those that help themselves!  


Sailing around the storm, is the option most often chosen when dealing with life's difficulties.  Side-stepping the issue, or setting a course for calmer seas, may seem the easiest way of handling a brewing storm.  But how do we judge the length and breadth of the problem?  Isn't that simply prolonging the inevitable?

No sane human being wants to charge head-on into a confrontation.  But, if you want to be the captain of your own ship, you must accept what's before you, and navigate through, not around, rough water.  You may want to pray for a miracle as you do so, or shed a few tears of fear, or sorrow, but you mustn't hesitate to take the wheel, step on the gas, and move forward.


When we confront our problems, and deal with them honestly and directly, we learn from them.  The more we learn, the stronger we become, and the better our chances are of confidently navigating, and surviving the next storm.


 So, whenever I find myself tempted to slam the door on the world, throw-in the towel, or drown in self-pity, I remind myself that, into each life a little rain must fall. . . some day the sun will shine!
Into each life some rain must fall, but too much is falling in mine. (click on this link to hear Ella and the Ink Spots) Written by Doris Fisher, the song was based upon a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, entitled, the Rainy Day.  
Photos by Mrs. Green Jeans, 2010

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