The area of North Carolina where I live is in the midst of a high level drought. We can’t wash our cars or water our yards. Every once in a while newscasters share new ideas about water conservation. I never throw out ice. I drop the ice cubes from the bottom of our water glasses into my indoor plants.

The thought of facing a spring without planting flowers in my garden saddens me. I wonder, “What happens when the garden dries up and ceases to exist? Can I survive out there in the jungle without a garden to refresh me?”

Water is a necessary ingredient for life and I believe ‘gardens’ are too. I have never taken either for granted. Growing up in a developing country meant that every drop of water I ever drank had to be boiled. It also meant that there were foods I couldn’t eat because they were watered with contaminated water!

Water is more precious than gold or jewels, but we don’t live like it…
until we find ourselves in a drought and experience water restrictions.

I don’t like to think about life without water or lush gardens. Whenever scary thoughts threaten to ruin my hopes for the spring – it’s those hopes that get me through the winter, I chase those thoughts away. I choose to believe the rains will come.

Today it is raining. We have been blessed with lots of rain! My heart leaps and jumps and dances because rain gives me joy.

I am not the only one celebrating. A few minutes ago the thunder rolled on past, moving north and east I guess. The buckets full of rain that were falling turned into little drops and the sun peeked through the clouds. My heart sang and suddenly a little bird chirped.
In a moment, he raised his head and cleared his throat A full blown song pierced the afternoon with his song of joy, expressing the sentiments that welled within my soul.

Today it rained. All is well.

My garden fills me with joy. It is the place I go to find contentment and gain a fresh spiritual perspective on life. What about you. Where do you go to settle your soul?