Partly Cloudy 

by Shauna Brown 

       As I started out for church this morning I was faced with driving in deep thick fog. I could only see about two car lengths in front of me. Could barely see the lines on the road, and much less the traffic signals. The weather man got it right this morning. The forecast:“heavy fog.”  I have come to value the weather forecasts.  I marvel frequently how accurate the weather forecasting has become.  Some days I am grateful that I listened and carried an umbrella. 

      Years ago when I attended BYU I took many broadcasting classes with the hope and plan that I would someday become a television “Weather Girl.”  However it wasn’t in my future forecast. 

      Lately on the news it seems we are hearing a lot of weather terminology: “inversion, instability, wind shear, saturation, jet streams, wind speed, patches, polar front, pressure, ridges. With a greater commitment to accuracy many television stations have installed their own expensive Dopler Radar systems with the hope to ultimately supply the most ‘perfect’ forecast possible to it’s viewers.  I have gained a greater appreciation of the weather reporter. I wear a warm coat and carry a windshield scraper... Knowing as they announce, “There is a 80% chance and probability for a storm.”    

       Weather advisories - are defined and issued for significant events that are occurring, are imminent, or have a very high probability of happening. 

    Wouldn’t it be nice if we too could have a ‘personal forecast’ or a personal ‘advisory’ for the coming week? Wouldn’t it be comforting to know that we could anticipate  a perfect measure of happy Moments on Monday. Realize and prepare for an all out alert for trouble that would Touch down on Tuesday.  Be relieved when we learn that an extra measure of Wisdom would be distilled on Wednesday.  Partly cloudy thoughts will hover on Thursday, and then you would enjoy a fabulous feeling on Friday. We could see when the days of down pours would submerge our spirits, as well as look forward and savor the sunny atmospheric pressures.There in with the fluctuating forecast we could  rise to any occasion. 

      I question: If personal forecasts were possible would we ever be content with the common 10 day forecast?  Clearly we would want to see further into our future and then some.  What would happen if it was forecasted that we would have a great high five Friday only to find that it became a flat and frustrating Friday or  a ‘Top of the morning Tuesday was filled with times of trepidation and mistrust.   Even with so called accurate forecasting and advisory messages, we would come to find our weekly forecast imperfect. Perhaps we would find ourselves in an overwhelmed inversion. We would then exist with the  high probably of fluctuating disbelief. I think I would want for more and more ‘ in depth’ information. We would soon want to have everything our way according to our time table and wants.  

      We all are going to encounter cloudy days, some days even when thunderbolts will strike our very rooftops.  I like the advice given by Vivian Greene, in fact I have followed her council:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; 

it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

     We must understand that our Heavenly Father is mindful of our personal forecast for growth.  God freely dispenses not only the sunshine moments but sometimes allows stimulating shock therapy that shakes our earth and standing. Clearly God has a plan for each of our lives. If we knew every event that would occur and transpire in our lives we would have little need to kneel. We wouldn’t develop trust or the belief that there will be better days ahead. Faith would become much like the fog this morning. We would be more than eager to drive through it than to be humble enough to trust that God would see us through. Predictions would handicap and demand constant advisory warnings.  Hope wouldn’t have a place in our vocabulary or life test. Somedays we would just stay home and “weather the storm.”

So just as we are pleasantly surprised with a sudden rainbow, or an abrupt cloud burst, we too must consider ... that spasmodic micro bursts of challenges have profound purpose in our lives. Churning currents of concern can be a key to our progression, growth and knowledge.   Shifting thoughts can humble us enough to ask of God. 

Just yesterday morning I looked out the window observing that all the trees were laden with white “Fairy Lace.” It was an impressive sight.  Zillions of ice crystals casting luminous rays of sparkling wonders. I could have easily missed it had I slept in. It was an incredible inversion which just by the view of it ultimately helped me recognize and feel a greater conversion. Everything testifies of Christ.

   So let us rejoice that with the seasonal changes of life come added moments of unexpected possibilities.  

      I second the thought of President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.” 

     Enjoy the fog and crystal mornings... ‘cause  you can.

     Happy Sabbath. 

      Love Shauna