Of Rain Drops and Redwoods

Moving off topic from the elements we have been discussing to a different set of "elements", namely the rain, some of the fullness of Creation can be seen in the events of my family's Independence Day weekend. This past weekend half of our composite family went to Sequoia National Park to escape the Inland Empire triple digit heat. Spending four days at Hume Lake with 10 adults and 11 kids can be exciting to say the least. But manifest in the visit was the presence of God in nature.

Natural beauty is all around you when traveling into the mountains. Green forests, towering peaks and peaceful lakes bring an appreciation for the handiwork of the Creator. The first day the weather was hot and in the low 90's. It seemed that the heat had followed us. Skies were clear with no sign of rain. Each of the next two days it did get cooler but still in the 80's during the day with not even a hint of rain but with some very light cloud cover.

On the third day, Independence Day, the clouds started to move in and by the afternoon there was significant coverage. While riding the zip line, thunder could be heard and the rain started. First a drizzle and then a shower. In a matter of minutes it was gone. The temperature had dropped into the low 70's with the overcast skies but it was still warm and the smell of musty socks filled the air as the rain was just enough to turn the dust into mud.

As quickly as the clouds had moved in, they moved out again and the sky cleared. The brief shower showed how the weather can change almost instantly and you need to be prepared. Things are always changing when you are out in God's creation, away from the man-made controlled environments of home and office, out where you have only the treetops to protect you.

The next day the clouds were moving in from the early morning, stretching over the mountain top as we enjoyed a breakfast at Inspiration Point. Even with this, rain was not expected and certainly not in the way it descended on us.
Leaving the lake we traveled into the Valley of the Giants. These massive Sequoia trees are absolutely awe inspiring to me. They truly show the magnificence of God. Hundreds of feet tall, Over one hundred feet in circumference and thousands of years old, they stand as guardians of the forest. They are truly one of God's finest. I could easily spend hours enjoying them, but not today.

Down in the middle of the forest, with all the little grand-kids, it started to rain. First a small drizzle but quickly turning into raindrops the size of peanuts. With just the right combination of weather, cold air up high and updrafts to keep the droplets suspended, the water would form into larger and larger drops until the weight was too much for the air to hold aloft. We had to grab the kids and run for what little cover we could find.

The temperature, in the low 70's just minutes ago, now plunged into the high 40's. Higher up the temperature dropped even further until the raindrops, being held up by the wind, started to freeze and form into hailstones the size of peas. The rain intensity increased significantly and the hail started to fall until the ground was covered white. Running for cover, we watched as God replenished the thirsty ground for His Giants and let us know He was watching over them. He put on a show for us with one of His simplest but most amazing compounds, Water.