Every week, unexpected messages fly over my transom, many from stranger-friends who have read something I’ve sent into the world via Improvised Life. It is a kind of call-and-response that is one of my great pleasures, as the surprising response can come years after the initial send —having meandered in the world or in someone’s mind/heart all that time —or in the form of a little artwork unto itself. Like this illuminating beauty from Katherine Davich, a powerful spill of rain memory sparked by Thomas Merton’s RainText:

Your last post of Thomas Merton’s RainText inspired this memory. Years ago, my husband and I attended a summer Subdudes concert at the Minnesota Zoo, an outdoor venue. The rule: Rain or shine, the concerts go on: no refunds for bad weather. About an hour before the concert, a violent thunderstorm came through the area, We arrived in light rain, glad the thunder and lightning had passed, and took our seats. The staff announced that the power was out, so they were going to delay a bit in hopes that it would come back on. After a few minutes the Subdudes came out, descended to the floor in front of the stage, and in a light rain, with no power for mikes or speakers or amplified instruments, they sang an a cappella version of their song: “The Rain.” Here are the lyrics: The rain finds its way from the stormy cloud Down through the ground to the tiny seed You came to me in a stormy hour Your love found a home deep inside of me The rain is working very hard It\’s got to water every little seed It\’s beautifully ordinary Making life seem very good indeed I wish that I could lay around all day with you Listen to the rain pounding on the roof But I\’m in Oklahoma only half way home Driving though I barely even see the road The rain is working very hard It\’s got to water every little seed It\’s beautifully ordinary Making life seem very good indeed The rain keeps coming down but it don\’t bother me In fact it brings me back a favorite memory Of you laughing in the rain Your clothes are soaking wet Standin\’ Songwriters: John Magnie / Tim Cook

Jumpstory CC

We found the song as an almost-acapella video, above, and in these lyrics:

The rain finds its way from the stormy cloud
Down through the ground to the tiny seed
You came to me in a stormy hour
Your love found a home deep inside of me

The rain finds its way from the stormy cloud
Down through the ground to the tiny seed
You came to me in a stormy hour
Your love found a home deep inside of me

The rain is working very hard
It’s got to water every little seed
It’s beautifully ordinary
Making life seem very good indeed

I wish that I could lay around all day with you
Listen to the rain pounding on the roof
But I’m in Oklahoma only half way home
Driving though I barely even see the road

The rain is working very hard
It’s got to water every little seed
It’s beautifully ordinary
Making life seem very good indeed

The rain keeps coming down but it don’t bother me
In fact it brings me back a favorite memory
Of you laughing in the rain
Your clothes are soaking wet
Standin’

The rain found its way…

It’s beautifully ordinary

Making life seem very good indeed

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