The beauty of rain

It's raining today after several beautiful late September days. Sometimes the weather doesn't mean a thing for a prisoner because the day's activities can go on completely unaffected by the weather (except for outside rec). We do not commute to work or depend on the weather for the productivity of the prison to function. But rain has a way of affecting morale. An inmate is more likely to quiet down on a rainy day, and many behaviors are predisposed to boredom on these days just like the weather. Our minds are left wandering, mostly aimlessly, leaving expressions of despair unaware on our faces.

But as I sit on the tier to write this, and consider the tendencies the weather promotes from my fellow inmates, I, personally, cannot help but to cherish the importance of rain as a prisoner.

I have noticed that because the outside is dreary, we focus our attention on the inside, where there is nothing to look at except drab walls and a restless environment. We become focused on our situation, and our mind is left tested by our circumstances. What are we allowing our minds to conjure up on the inside during these times? I appreciate the slowing down caused by the rain, because it reinforces my already conditioned "Be Still" mindset.

Likewise in life's afflictions, when that "storm" causes bewilderment and everything around us seems to be soaked by that "rain," we must look inside to "Be Still." There is something inside of us that is calmer than the world around us and is waiting to be tapped into. Or better put, "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world." When our circumstances on the outside are screaming at us, it is important that we look inside to quiet that storm.

From my point of view, it is definitely obvious how the weather controls our moods in prison. Our state of mind and feelings are affected by the external conditions. We need to allow this "rain" to flow forth to use for our own benefit; or better put, "Draw close to God and He will draw close to you."

How are we using our outside pressures to calm our inside turmoil's?