the big black cloud

This is Ki-pat

  who watched his herd

As he stood on one leg,

  like the big stork bird;

Ki-pat, whose cows

  were so hungry and dry,

They mooed for the rain

  to fall from the sky;

To green up the grass,

  all brown and dead,

That needed the rain

  from the cloud overhead—

The big, black cloud

  all heavy with rain,

That shadowed the ground

  on Kapiti Plain.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain

By Verna Aardema

Many of the days following Amelia’s diagnosis, I have felt as if there is a big black cloud, all heavy with rain, looming above us. We know the rain is coming, we can feel the storms brewing, and all we know to do is to bunker down and wait out the storm. This morning as I felt again the clouds gathering above, I thought of Ki-pat and his feather that helped to change the weather.

For those of you who know the story, you will remember that Ki-pat made an arrow from his feather and shot it into the cloud to release the rain. His cows, the grass and Ki-pat could not wait any longer for the rains to come.

Patience has never been a virtue of mine.

And still, I will wait for the rain.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1-3