The one good thing about reliably bad weather is how astonishing and refreshing it is when the sun actually does shine! We have recently had a string of sun and warmth this summer that is virtually unheard of in Northern Ireland. People have emerged from their homes like moles poking their heads up above ground. Folks seemed hesitant at first, sniffing the air for signs of danger or some kind of trick, squinting eyes unused to the brilliance, then slowly, gradually coming alive with the bright possibilities that a sunny day holds. We've been able to plan backyard cook outs, picnics, walks, and trips to the beach... all of which are impossible to fully enjoy in the pouring rain! There's a general feeling of goodwill among citizens going about their daily business in Belfast. So often, we are hidden under umbrellas and hoods with our heads down, rushing to and fro to minimize exposure to wetness. The sun has lifted our downturned heads and allowed us to actually see one another as we pass on sidewalks! The smiles, greetings, and general cheerfulness that are not a normal part of the typical Belfast resident are a welcome side effect of sunny weather.
But even amidst the glorious brightness and warmth of this summer I've heard rumblings.
"It really is a bit too warm, isn't it."
"We sure could use some rain."
"It is so hot in the afternoons that you can hardly go outside."
Isn't it like us humans! We just can't be pleased! When it is rainy we wish for sun. When it is sunny we wish for rain. Warm weather makes us wish it were cooler. Cool weather sends us off on vacations to sunny places searching for a bit of warmth. But it really is more than the weather, isn't it? Single folks pray for a spouse while married folks wax nostalgic about their single days. Couples can't wait to have children, while moms and dads desperately wait for the babysitter to arrive so they can take a break from their kids. Working people long for retirement and retired people go back to work because they have too much time on their hands. We are fickle creatures! The old adage is true, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!
It is a true art to be able to live fully in a moment and not wish ourselves on to somewhere just beyond, where we think things will be better. I find myself challenged this summer to savor the moment that I'm in, rather than wishing myself somewhere else! As an expat, I so often long for home, family, friends, work that fulfills me, familiar places... the list goes on! I wonder how many beautiful moments I've missed out on here in Northern Ireland because I was so busy wishing for home? I KNOW that I won't be able to master the art of appreciating the moment today, tomorrow, or even in my lifetime for that matter! Beloved people and places scattered around the globe will always have a hold on part of my heart. That is just a reality of living abroad. But I know I can do better at enjoying and savoring my life here in Belfast.
So... I'll start with the weather... the clouds have drifted back in, the temperatures are a bit cooler, and I'm delighted that it is a dry day!
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Phillipians 4:11-13
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