The Raindrop Study

Are you ready to take another lesson from God’s creation? Let’s go on a hike up into the hills. It is a wet, cold day, with gray clouds. You will need a raincoat and boots. To be good scientists, let’s take a notepad and binoculars, too.

Here we are on a wilderness trail. Long hemlock branches protect us from some of the raindrops. The earth smells damp and cold, and soon our coats are dripping. But it has been dry and we need the rain. “Why?” you ask. Good question! Now let’s look around for the answer. Across a high misty meadow we tramp until we come to a deer path. Let us follow it and see where it leads. We come to a small stream where the grass is thick and green. Now we can see where some of the raindrops have gone and why they are important! The deer and the plants both need water to live.

But where does this stream go? Bubbling and splashing it rushes over rocks and under mossy logs. More water joins the stream from gullies and dripping branches until it has become a wide creek. Now the forest is thick with trees and bushes. Birds chirp from branches and more animal trails join the creek path. Where will it take us? Down, down… and here we are at a long, deep lake! It is hidden low between the hills with dark forests surrounding the calm water.

As we sit quietly on a fallen log, a heron lands in the shallow water and wood ducks swim by. What makes this place so special? All those falling raindrops and bubbling streams have joined to make something great and beautiful. “How?” you ask. By going down, down, down to the lowest place of all.

Here is our lesson that the Prince of Peace Himself told us: “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”* (Matthew 20:27) Do you want to be important? When you are willing to just be little, like the falling raindrop, and think of others before yourself, you will be the greatest blessing to all around you.