“Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be not life.” ~John Updike
This picture was taken from a window in the Froiland Science Center on the Augustana University campus, the place where natural and health science classes take place. Since we are all second year nursing majors, we spend much of our time studying and learning there. In introductory nursing classes, we learn that water is one of the most essential elements in maintaining crucial life processes and makes up about 60% of the body. For instance, water is needed for body temperature maintenance, movement, transportation of nutrients, respiration, sensitivity, excretion, reproduction, and growth. God intricately designed our bodies to rely on water, just as He designed our spirits to wholly rely on Him.
Similarly, water is essential to life in the natural world. Rain provides the necessary water for photosynthesis in plants and other life-giving processes in animals. It creates a means for transportation and reproduction, and it brings about new life every season when winter gives way to spring. This is especially true in South Dakota, where agriculture is of key importance for the livelihood of many farming families. Lack of rain would be detrimental to crop production and stability of income. Without rain, South Dakota and the earth as a whole would not be able to survive. In the same way water provides for the earth, God provides for us both physically and spiritually. When we are empty and in need of God’s grace, He abundantly pours out His love and guidance upon us. He fills us with His everlasting provision and renews our spirits daily.
God’s rain falls on the whole earth, to all people at the proper time and season, and this is no exception at Augustana University where we live. When it rains on a weekday and we must make the trek to one of our classes in the Froiland Center across campus, we may be quickly annoyed. However, once we reach our class indoors, and look out the window, we are reminded that rain is actually a blessing and a reminder of God’s love falling down on us; it connects heaven to earth as long as the storm persists.
When we all chose to become nursing majors, we did so because we have a desire to provide care and aid in saving patients’ lives. Moving forward in our nursing careers, this picture of rain nurturing the earth will be a constant reminder of our roots in the nursing profession and how God provides for His creation, just as we should, in turn, provide for and nurture others around us.
Katie Schroeder is from Waconia, Minnesota and is a nursing major at Augustana University.
Taylor Lepke is from Mitchell, South Dakota and is a nursing major at Augustana University.
Gabrielle DeVries is from Omaha, Nebraska and is a nursing major at Augustana University.