(c)2020 Carolyn Miller
The “first rains”, after a dry spell, bring with them an interesting mix of emotions.
When the ground is dry and crying out for moisture then these first rains are a milestone. They bring a freshness. They bring a hope that the rain has started with the possibility of more to follow.
But they do not resolve the drought. They do not come with any promises of restoring the former life to the garden or overflowing the dam.
They bring a momentary joy when one can hear the rain pouring down the gutters and into the empty water tanks. They bring a sense of relief. But the reality is that the first rains need to keep on raining… they cannot be the only rain as they are not enough.
I experienced this sensation this year when it hadn’t rained at Binbrook (our country property) for months and all my beautiful plants in the garden appeared dead. The grass was yellow with dirt piles in places. The creek had dried up, the dam was empty and some of our water tanks were basically empty. When it finally started to rain it was pure joy to hear. The sound of water dripping into the water tanks sent me into a delighted spin!
But it turned out to be only a short light shower. Deep down inside I knew it was going to take a lot more rain to break the drought and make a difference. And yet I felt happy for small mercies and this first shower reignited the hope of a green countryside once again.
In composing this piece of music, I tried to capture the underlying “sadness” of the land with the tinkling of rain falling upon it, ever so gently… bringing it hope of a change to come. As I created, I began contemplating the spiritual parallel.
We can go through tough times and feel spiritually dry. The first rains represent that moment when our hearts are sparked. It might be a word of encouragement. It might be a comforting worship experience. It might be a passage of scripture that speaks to us. Or someone prays a prayer that touches our heart…something that made you feel alive in that moment. These moments are precious and we need to see them as valuable. They are the “first rains”.
They bring immediate relief from the depressive situation but there is still a long road to go. They bring hope that things will get better even though our circumstances have not changed. They show us that God is there working things for good and we need to be patient.
Don’t dismiss these first rains as unimportant… they are the beginning of something new… something that is fresh and brings new life… something that is worth waiting for. They are the first sign of a breakthrough… the first signs of change. They are the hope we have been looking for.
Rejoice in these first rains and continue to look to God because your journey of recovery has begun.
About the score… find a sample of the score below. If you are a pianist who is about Grade 5 then I think you would be able to play this. It is not technically difficult but requires mature musicianship for the rubato and to play expressively with a depth of emotion and musicality. If you wish to obtain a full copy of the piano score then please contact me and I can send you a PDF. There is no cost involved… I just like to know where the scores are going. Thanks
carolynmmusic 