Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head

I'd like to meet St Swithin and ask him why he is associated with rain! We got lots of it on Sunday 17th July, when we staged 'O for a Thousand Tongues' on the Castle Lawn in Tonbridge. Unlike 2008 when the sun shone, we did not get 1000, but we did attract about 350 hardy souls who worshiped with us as the heavens opened and clouds on the horizon carried back the empties. The Castle Lawn is a great amphitheatre for events and the powerful P.A. sent the message in song and Scripture way out over the battlements, down the High Street and into adjoining homes. Our speaker, Andrew Marsh, from Christian Concern, gave a wonderful Address, disproving the point that Christians can't speak of their faith and concerns in the open air. Someone is conning them!

It's easy to witness when the sun is shining, but what was amazing was the perseverance of the Absolute Gospel Company team and, indeed, the spectators. Down came the rain and up went the smiles, even with the water trickling down the back of the neck and soaking programmes. As an American once remarked: "England would be a great country if you put a roof on it"!

We were reminded of the last time we toured in Israel. We seemed to bring the rain with us; rain for a dry land. Standing and singing on Masada, above the Dead Sea, we saw rain clouds over distant Jerusalem. Visiting Nazareth Village, we took shelter in the synagogue and sang, whilst the rain poured down. By Galilee, in the safety of our snug kibbutz, we saw the thunder clouds roll out over the lake and when the group visited the Golan Heights, there was the rain again!

I guess Jesus was out in all weathers; certainly the Gospels seem to bear that out. Storms at sea, hot noonday sun, Israel seems to get a good variety. In our number-obsessed western faith, we forget He spoke sometimes to one, two, a group, hundreds and thousands. All seem to bear fruit. Were umbrellas in use then, or an ancient version thereof? Certainly the eastern shepherd experienced all weathers. So did the sheep. Indeed Jesus said weather watching was pretty intense.

Raindrops have indeed fallen on our heads on a number of occasions when we have been singing. We've also felt the cold winds blow and the searing sun beat down. We've sung in the cool of the evening and the bright air of a baptismal morning, on the banks of the Jordan river. Oh, yes and we've also sung in the safety and warmth of a church. "Go ye into ALL the world".