Dry Season

 

These photos were not taken in my home village, but they capture the pervasiveness of dry season in northern Uganda. In my mom's words, "You can't escape the heat. And the wind- it's like a constant blow drier!"  Except for a few wisps, clouds leave the sky, allowing intense sunlight to fill the atmosphere. Dust dances on the wind, setting in every imaginable crevice. Green plants turn brown as weeks pass with little or no rain.

As I've watched dry season roll around this year, I'm struck by its parallel to hard seasons in life. Just like dry season, difficult times usually last for days, months or years before finding resolution. Struggles usually last for seasons not moments. 

In a struggle it's desolate. The dust of fear, worry and frustration cover every inch of one's internal being. The soul wilts in exhaustion, desperate for a renewing rain shower. Instead, it finds intense sunlight radiating without end.

I experienced this before and see it within myself now. If you feel or have felt this dry season before, know you are the farthest thing from alone. No human has every existed on earth without feeling pain.

The pervasiveness of the season can drown the sufferer without using a single drop of water.

Yet....

One morning, I looked out the window and found myself gaping at the bright blue sky. Unhindered by clouds, the beautiful shade threw itself into the world with full enthusiasm.

This got me thinking about other beauties of dry season... The way shade's cool relief is noticed; thankfulness for every drink of cold water; plenty of sunshine for solar power. If these pockets of goodness exist in physical dry season, is it possible they are present in one's soul struggle?

I leave you to answer the question for yourself.

For me, I say yes. I see the love of my family, the miracle of an infant's new life, hear the birds singing, let myself escape into sleep at night, feel the embrace of a hug, trace the veins in a leaf, read inspiring words strung together in a poem... and I know- even if it's only for a second- that life possesses good. Even when my situation is bad.

One final word: dry season is just that- a season. It has an end. The rain will come. Does this mean pain will end? Certainly not. There's nuisances in wet season too. Yet the knowledge that each situation, every emotion and pain has an end presents the hope a person needs to keep moving forward.