What’s your weather like?

The weather has been very changeable here in Ireland since the beginning of May, and before that, April and March were colder and wetter than usual. It has really affected farmers and other outdoor workers a lot. Here at the monastery, we have been praying for better conditions to allow them to keep their important livelihood going.

Reflecting on the recent weather has brought to my mind some Golden Oldie hit songs centred on the theme of weather. Do you remember Fred Astaire in the 1935 film Top Hat singing: “Isn’t this a lovely day?” (song written by Irving Berlin).   He didn’t care about the rain, once he was with the woman he loved:

The weather is frightening the thunder and lightning
Seem to be having their way
But as far as I'm concerned, it's a lovely day…
Let the rain pitter patter but it really doesn't matter
If the skies, skies are gray long as I can be with you, it's a lovely day

In contrast, the sunshine could not lift the spirits of Buddy Holly in 1958 when he sang it was “Raining in my heart”:

The sun is out, the sky is blue
There's not a cloud, to spoil the view
But it's raining, raining in my heart

Isn’t it true, that the outside weather doesn’t always reflect our inner mood? Some days ago, I had the experience of a person assuming I was in good spirits, when in fact inside my heart I was feeling rather cloudy and grey.

We never know what anyone is going through, what issues and struggles they are privately battling inside, whilst putting on a brave and positive front. Similarly, there may be people who seem to be gloomy and sad, whilst inside they have a deep inner peace. We never know, until we can ask the other: what is your weather like today?