We have had a remarkable year when it comes to family birthdays. We have been with each of our grandchildren on that child’s birthday. We also were with our son on his birthday and his wife on her birthday. At the end of this week we will be with our daughter on her birthday. The only birthday we have missed is our son-in-law who has been deployed including on his birthday. Having our daughter as part of an Air Force family we are learning that the enlisted members of the service are not the only ones who sacrifice for national defense. Their families also learn to make sacrifices to support their service.

We began the celebration of our daughter’s birthday a week early by taking a trip with her and her son to Isle of the Palms for some beach time, rest and relaxation, good eating, and fun play. We made the trip this past weekend because our grandson has a soccer match next Saturday and we don’t want to miss that. Birthdays are often rescheduled in our family. We want to give them the time and attention they deserve and sometimes in a busy family with many obligations it doesn’t work out to celebrate on the actual day. So we have gotten used to adjusting our celebrations.

As we left the Isle of Palms today it was raining. It seemed appropriate to have some gray skies and drizzle as we departed. We had exceptional weather during our visit and although there were some clouds, the weather was perfect for playing in the ocean, watching dolphins from the shore, swimming in the swimming pool, and the other activities of our weekend.

Back at her home it hasn’t rained very much. This is a place that can get some heavy rainfall and they have already had the consequences of a hurricane passing through their state this fall bringing torrential rain. It is likely that more rain is in store for South Carolina yet this fall. We were fortunate, however, to have our time at the beach at a time when the weather was good.

I was thinking of gray days because our new home in Washington is in a place that is known for its gray days and rainy weather. It isn’t the wettest part of Washington, nor is it the wettest area of the United States, but we do get quite a few cloudy days from late fall through early spring. For some the gray skies combine with the short days at the 49th parallel to touch off a bit of seasonal affective disorder. So far I haven’t found the weather to be much of a problem for me, but we did invest in some good rain gear to facilitate getting outside. What would be depressing for me would be to have to stay indoors all the time. I like to go outside and breathe fresh air. Owning a good rain jacket, rain paints, and waterproof shoes seems like a good investment in emotional well being.

Many years ago, when we were part of regular trips to Costa Rica to work with our sister church there, we often traveled at the edge of Costa Rica’s rainy season. We got rained on several times, including one time when we had rented a bus to take the children of the church on a field trip to a volcano. We really got wet trying to see the volcano and we had to eat our lunch on the bus to have a dry place for our meal. It was a fun adventure, but not quite what we had planned.

After that time we got into the habit of saying that we’d let George take care of the weather. George Zeise was a pioneer of the sister church relationship and a faithful mission visitor to Costa Rica. He and his wife Mae Louise were beloved both in our congregation and in our sister congregation in Costa Rica. After George passed away it seemed to us to make sense to let George take care of the weather since it was something over which we had no control.

I have no desire to be able to control the weather. What I do wish is that I will maintain the flexibility and sense of adventure required to deal with whatever weather comes my way. I’m pleased to live where I no longer have to shovel large amounts of deep snow from my driveway, but I do occasionally miss the snowy days of winter. I have often said that I put in my seven winters in North Dakota and so do not require the experience of -30 temperatures to feel like I am fully alive. The weather of the place we now live suits me fine.

I do not, however, believe that the weather is superior to weather in other places. We are fortunate to live in a place that has fewer extremes. Summer days rarely climb into the 90s. Winter days usually stay above the teens. That is comfortable for me. And I’m comfortable letting George take care of the weather.

It worked for our family last weekend. We had the weather we needed for the adventure we had chosen. We could hardly ask for more. Thanks, George!

Having said all of that, I am also aware that there are so many for whom the weather has not worked out. Women in Sub-Saharan Africa who are walking long distances to get water for their families because local wells have run dry are the victims of harsh weather. Families along the Fraser River whose homes still cannot be occupied following floods three years ago who have found out that they cannot rebuild because of an additional flow of debris this year are the victims of harsh weather. Those living on South Pacific Islands whose islands are disappearing due to rising sea levels are victims of harsh weather. There are thousands who have been stranded in airports due to harsh weather. Victims of hurricanes and cyclones and tornadoes don’t make light of weather forecasts.

Our attitude towards the weather is a delicate balance. We try to be prepared and have the right equipment to deal with the weather where we find ourselves. We try to pay attention and anticipate major weather events. And we realize that there is also a factor of luck in the weather we receive. May we never forget to be grateful for everyday blessings such as a climate that supports life and the activities we enjoy.