It’s 4:30 a.m. and the sun should be peeking over the hill. Unfortunately, thick rain clouds make it difficult to know for 
sure if that’s happening. If you read my previous blog you know we are leaving bright (well, maybe not bright) and early this morning on an 8 day motorcycle trip. And it’s seriously threatening to rain on our parade.
Yesterday was 82 degrees and gorgeous, teasing me into gleeful anticipation. I picked out my outfit for this morning with thoughts of sunscreened arms under a clear blue sky. The shirt I chose was pink with a Harley logo on the front to match my pink leather chaps, a gift from my biker husband on our 40thanniversary. This morning I’m tucking the shirt in my bag and pulling out my turtleneck and black leathers, much more suited to inclement weather. And – the rain gear.
I have nothing against a little sprinkle, although this looks to be a bit more than that. What I do have a problem with is army green which is the color of my rain ensemble. It’s not pretty. It’s not complimentary to my light complexion and blonde hair. And it certainly is not fashionable! The best you could say about it is it’s serviceable. How boring is that?
Don’t get me wrong. I can appreciate the serviceability, just not the lack of fashion. It’s boxy, plain and well – green. However, from past experience I can tell you it works. It keeps me dry, cuts the wind, even adds some chill resistance factor. Should the skies open up as they threaten, I will be prepared. When we arrive at our day’s destination, I will be relatively dry.
It’s much like the full armor of God. I don’t want to need it. I want to wake to sunshine every day. I want to throw my head back, suck in the fresh air and sing at the top of my voice. But many days are not conducive to blind enjoyment. In fact on most days I will face some type of threatening storm. Much as I’d like to skip through life in Liz Claiborne dresses and Gucci shoes, I will most often find myself in army green. In some environments it will not be considered fashionable. On some days people will point their fingers and mock me. On other days it will feel cumbersome and hindering.
But I’ve had experience enough to know it will always be serviceable. Beyond my rain gear which deflects water, these garments will deflect the arrows of the enemy. They will protect my most vulnerable parts from accusation and anger, from jabs and jeering, from harm and hatred. They will keep me safe in the bloodiest wars, give me courage in the scariest situations and cover me with peace in the midst of turmoil.
The full armor of God may not be what I see in the glossy ads of fashion magazines. But it will inevitably be the garments my world envies when they see me survive and thrive in a land of death and destruction.
Today I will wear my rain gear with this in mind. My God has a garment for every situation. Rain clouds will not frighten me. I will throw out my army green, oversized arms and praise His name – with His living water running in torrents down my face. I will smile at Mother Nature because as hard as she tries, she is no match for Father God.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:13-17
No posts next week, friends. I will be on the road!
