Rain and Wrens

I can't believe it is Wednesday. It has been one of those times lately where suddenly I look up and I just don't have quite enough time to do everything that needs doing, much less reflect and come up with something intelligent or insightful to say. I'll try to at least skim the surface though, and maybe some wisdom will float to the top.

This period of busyness started last week with an incredible rainstorm. It was the first time that it had rained since we arrived here, and the last time we'd seen rain since somewhere around Nashville a couple of months ago on our trip out here. It wasn't just a shower either, it was a deluge for over 24 hours. In a dry place like this you can almost feel the hills exhale with relief when it rains. Even though it hasn't dipped below 60 people hesitate to drive and go around wearing winter parkas and fur lined boots. (Silly, huh Mainers?) Now a week later what were once dry patches of dust are now covered in tender green shoots. Everything smells fresh after the rain, the eucalyptus and rosemary more fragrant. Also, the rain (briefly) cleans the smog out of the air here. The morning after the rain you can see the mountains in the distance from downtown. You can see everything! L.A. is almost transformed into another city, sparkling and clean. The veil of pollution that usually clouds up our long distance vision is washed away for a day or two, and we can appreciate the basin of angels, between the mountains and the sea, filled with streets lined with bouganvillia and palm trees and dreamers. Rain here is pretty special to say the least.

Just after the rain I woke up for several mornings in a row to the call and then the busy little image of a house wren flitting around my back yard with her tail set at a jaunty angle, cheerfully and chattily going about her business. Setting a good example for me. And busy we have been with work and school and home and trying to dig ourselves into a life and community and survive the winds of fate in these uncertain times. I did find time to paint her image though.

I guess one thing I have reflected on somewhat this week is how much the painting of these images helps me. It gives me incredible joy, and when doing it I am immersing myself in the characteristics that I see embodied in the creatures that I am painting. I call these animal icons, because they are inspired by icons that I have seen growing up in the Catholic Church and in my travels in Latin America and Eastern Europe. I love to stand in far flung churches and admire the many beloved, beatified faces lit by votives. An icon is an image of the divine, usually believed to have protective and miraculous powers. I've read stories somewhere of icons that turn away hoarding armies, heal the sick and maimed, and many other amazing things. I don't think that my icons can do anything like that,....but who knows, maybe we just haven't had any hoarding armies to try it out on! In any case though, if the wren helps remind me to be cheerful in my busyness and to be hopeful for prosperity and success in my life, then that is kind of the same thing as support and protection.

May your saints come to visit and protect you as often as mine fly into my yard and life.