Missing the rain

It rained at my house tonight. 
That is not an unusual thing to be blogging about to be sure.  I mean we are in the middle of monsoon weather in Arizona so rain is to be expected. 
But, today was a beautiful day outside.  Sunny with a hint of spectacular attatched to it.  A gentle breeze was all that could have been said.  Sunny and breezy.  All in all a most fine day.  No rain was really expected, except for the fact that it is the season for the rains to come on unexpectedly.
Our church started a new study or program this afternoon to let those that wanted to know what their mission is and to get new people that are coming more acclimated to the church.  I knew Jimmy would not be able to go since he would have to be in bed before it was over.  It started at 3:00 and so of course I was a few minutes late.
The drive to church was nice.  Had the air running in the car.  The sun was beating down and shining bright as could be.  Not a raindrop to be expected.
At the end of the 2 hour meeting they offered a dinner for everyone that showed up.  Wanting to get to know the people that I had been sitting with a little bit I decided to stay.  As we went to get our food we stood in the lobby and watched the winds blowing.  The wind had been blowing gently earlier in the day but then the sun had been shining.  Now the winds were picking up and the skies were turning, not dark, but not quite so bright.  Someone said, "Looks like it might rain."
After I ate and visited for a while I left to go to my brothers church.  It is Sunday so I guess church is a good place to be. 
The skies were still a bit dark and the winds were still blowing, still, no rain.
Made it to church in time for some praise and worship and some John Bevere.  Bible study by DVD.  It has been really good so I was glad I hadn't missed this segment. 
I was sitting there when my phone vibrated showing I had a message on Facebook.  I looked down to see what was so important and saw that my daughter in law had posted that it was pouring rain.  Ok, well it had finally rained.
I didn't think any more about it until I left church and realized it had not rained at church.  The streets and sidewalks, cars and trucks were as dry as they had been when I got there.
I headed for home.  I turned into my neighborhood and saw the rain puddles and the evidence of water everywhere.
"Wow," I thought, a little sad, "I missed the rain."
Then it hit me. 
What would that feeling be like if I missed God?
So many applications. 
What if I miss Him when He calls me to do a work for Him?  How many times has He laid out a plan for my life and I have missed it?  What about when the Spirit is moving in church or somewhere and I am either someplace else physically or even mentally and I miss it?
But then I thought of something even worse.  What if it was the trumpet sound that I had missed?  That final call?
There are signs all around.  We know that we are living in the end times.  His return is imminent.  It could be any day. 
Just like the storm clouds that were blowing in today, the skies turning gray, there are signs.  It happens a lot in Arizona, but it doesn't always produce rain.  So we don't prepare for it. 
We are like the foolish virgins whose lamps were left to run dry.  They thought they had time to go and get more oil.  But they had been told to watch and be ready for their Bridegroom would be coming.  They knew it could happen at any moment, but they didn't stay ready.  They weren't prepared.  They missed it.
What are you doing to get ready, to stay ready?  Are you looking for the rain or have you decided it really isn't going to happen any time soon. 
You think you can go about your busy life and you won't miss it because just like every other day in monsoon weather in Arizona the skies are going to be dark for a while and the winds may blow but it doesn't rain.  "Those are just signs," you say to yourself.  And then...it does...it rains.  While you are off doing your own thing...not watching...not waiting...and you miss it.  You miss the rain.
What else are you about to miss?  Are you watching?  Are you waiting?  For behold the Bridegroom cometh.  Watch and be ye ready.  Prepare for rain.  Trust me you don't want to be missing the rain!