Preparing for the dry season

It is raining quite regularly in Uganda today. All around me is evidence of lots of water – potholes in front of my gate, dark green maize crops in my garden, wet walls, clothes unable to dry due to inadequate sunshine, plenty of grass in the compound as well as hedges to trim, etc. I must hasten to add that I love the rain. I love the sound of rain and the smell of the wet ground (which is becoming rare now that Kampala City Council Authority is using asphalt on many roads). I love to see my crops flourish. Long forgotten flowers and plants slowly resurrect from their dry and dusty graves to reveal fresh leaves and flowers. One particular shrub was doing very badly in the ground in which I had transplanted it. All attempts to replant it elsewhere had failed and I knew that it would soon die. However, with the rains, there is evidence of life. Who can beat that?

However, the rains also have come with certain challenges. I have noticed an increase in infections amongst some children, a lull in the mood of some people, unexpected power cuts, meetings cancelled, increase in car washing bills, and for me specifically, a terrible infection that has devastated my poultry. That said, one has a choice – to see the terrible effects of the rain or to see the hope and joy that the rains brings for tomorrow – more food for Ugandans to live on and to sell, more green to combat the terrible dry weather and food shortage, etc.  I have chosen to concentrate on the latter. The good stuff

This reminds me of the interpretation that Joseph gave King Pharaoh in the Book of Genesis 41. Pharaoh had a dream which signified that there would be seven years of plenty which would be followed by seven years of scarcity ( Verse 25). He therefore assigned Joseph to prepare for the times of scarcity and famine. Egypt would turn out to be a major nation in combating the famine in those days

Today, our famine or dry season might come in different ways -  It could be the the loss of  a job, the loss of a loved one, a relationship gone bad, political turmoil name it. Before this happens, one needs to prepare for such times. The spouse should invest heavily in making the best of their relationship, the politically astute should use the period of plenty, not to enrich oneself but to enrich the electorate with knowledge not bribes, the student should read and prepare well for the exams to come, the mother should prepare for the time her child will walk away an independent man.

As Christians, our reliance on God and what HE says means a deep investigation into HIS word which He has generously provided for us. The more we delve into HIS world, the more wisdom we have to prepare for a the dry seasons in our lives. Just as plants tend to grow deeper roots during the rainy season and maximise the days of plenty, so should we 

How are we maximizing the rains? How are we making use of the times of plenty?