Iowa is usually humid and wet in the summer. We get some pretty amazing thunderstorms that drench the crops and fill the earth with nitrogen from the lightning. One of my favorite things about living in Iowa is standing out on the porch watching the storm blow in! (Yes, Iowans sit on the porch sometimes when we should be in our basements!)
I used to think of storms as scary and dark, but being in a place so connected to the land around us reminds me that without storms, we would have no yield. This is a place where we do "dry land farming" so there are no irrigators.... one dry year could cost us everything! Last year was a bad year for everyone, granted, but it was also unseasonably dry here in my corner of the world. It was so dry that our creek beds have islands in the middle, and the public pool is delaying opening until the well fills up more!
So, with that in mind, I painted this scene. It is a little about waiting in expectation, and a little about leaving something old behind and awaiting God's blessings to fill us so we can start something new in our lives. I believe God is preparing the world for what He is about to do. A new thing that may require a new mindset. I am waiting, and I am ready to hear and receive something new.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
You can see more paintings in this series entitled "Showers of Blessings" here and purchase them from my website.. or come see them in person at the Tivoli Artisan Market Show! Friday, May 28, 4-9pm - Sat. May 29, 8-5pm on Main Street in Kimballton, Iowa!