The Balancing of the Clouds

We pulled out of the driveway for our road trip. "Look at the sky," I remarked to my husband. "Not one cloud. It almost doesn't look real." My husband nodded in agreement. Indeed, residing in the Southwest, we enjoy many sunny days.

But, as we headed from the desert terrain into the mountains, little by little, clouds began to appear. I was mesmerized at the way they seemed to congregate. Starting with a mere white puff, one after another, they expanded into a handful. Within the hour, it seemed as if they had called upon others to join the throng.  

"The clouds are congregating," I chuckled. "I think they're having a party. How do they know where to go or what to do?" I marveled. "Odd. There appears to be a balance between their beginning and their end."    

My husband, who had been a weatherman in the military, smiled. I knew he was resisting the temptation to go into a lengthy explanation about the science behind their formation. Instead, he kindly went along with my dry sense of cloud humor and silliness--a film-like glaze which often hangs over my reflective nature.     

But as we ascended to a higher elevation, those same white, fluffy clouds began to transform to a misty gray color, then to pencil-gray, with numerous cloud "bottoms" turning to a dark charcoal. Weighted down with precipitation, they threatened to burst.   

The darkness put a damper on the view--and on my mood. Why did clouds have to get in the way?  Within moments, heavy rain pelted the windshield. Even with the wipers turned to high, it was futile for my husband to navigate due to the poor visibility.      
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Fortunately, he was able to pull off the road and we waited until the deluge subsided. But, this wouldn't be the last of the congregating clouds. Our destination would be a high-altitude mountainous region where daily thunderstorms and showers are common. 

My husband would have gladly explained the science behind the rainstorms, but we both knew there is more to science behind those congregating clouds. Only the God of Creation could design their form and pattern to provide the water needed to nourish the earth.    

Sometimes we complain when the weather doesn't cooperate with our plans. But our plans--and our ways--are not God's way. If the clouds need to congregate to "have a party," that's the way it has to be.  

Then, after the storm, we rejoice as blue skies re-emerge and the sun comes out. May we be thankful to God for His Creation, and for all He has given to us, for days of sun--and days of cloud.    
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"Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge." - Job 37:16

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