Our smaller group of 8 arrived late in Ft. Lauderdale to be greeted by our leader's parents. We stayed with them until Friday when we met up with almost all of the team - 36 in all. After getting to bed at 1:45am, we had a relaxing day in Ft. Lauderdale, saw some interesting sights, including a banyan tree, whose roots grow from the branches down to the ground.
That morning, I went for a brief (and very humid) run after waking up to a 2-colored sky: bright sun and black clouds, with a massive 1/2-arch rainbow. The run ended in rain, but was well worth it.
I've marveled at the analogy of continuous sunshine above the darkest of clouds. In God's unfathomable but trustworthy character, He often allows dark times - rain, storms, times of confusion, doubt, hardship, etc. Because of truth, we can cling to the promises, even if we don't feel or even see them being fulfilled. But that morning, I mused from another angle. Sometimes we see the sun, even when it is raining above us. Sometimes He allows the 2-part sky, the clear evidence of His shining presence as the rain cloud above drops its fill. This duality gives a different perspective on the rain. It isn't as dreary, and it even glistens in the light of the sun. Rainbows peak at this point as well.
The sun came out and provided a great afternoon to sit outside and read. I think I read more over two days than I had in the weeks before! The Peacemaker by Ken Sande was a thought-provoking but helpful book.
