We are starting the week off with some much needed rain here in Southern California on this beautiful Monday morning. As I sit here enjoying the view of the cloudy skies, listening to the swishing and swooshing of car tires against the pavement, I am once again reminded of all that we have gone through together this past year, and all that is still to come.

At the start of the year, many of of us huddled together as we prepared for the imminent storm approaching us from the distance. We saw the signs - the grey clouds from afar, lightning striking neighboring lands, and heard the footsteps of thunder inching closer and closer, day by day. Regardless of the circumstance, regardless of the forecasted outcome, regardless of the risk, we worked hard and built ourselves a fortress of community, education, and preparedness to take shelter in when the storm finally reaches our doorstep.

Today, we watch as the storm continues to pass over us. Some have already gone through the worst of it while others are listening for the right moment to whip out that umbrella. Some have taken cover and some are getting ready to go out dancing in the rain. We are ready!

But friends, I want to remind you to take a moment and reflect on the flowers of your soul that are to bloom after the rain. Look up and take note of all that surrounds our fortress. The relationship we've strengthened with our Creator, the empowering of our minds (from all that studying!), the friendships we developed, the personal growth we've experienced; these are the flowers of our soul that fill our fields right now and there is promise of more to come!

Perhaps the rain today can serve us as a reminder to rejoice always, even in the midst of rainstorms and cloudy days. That we are not lost in the desert of despair and hopelessness, that we have the blooming of many flowers to look forward to when the sun comes out shining again; this is our true blessing, and indeed, what makes life so precious and so beautiful.