The page the following song lyric was composed on is splattered with drops of rain falling from trees shading our back porch here in Stoneham, Massachusetts this August morning. It rained hard last evening, another summer storm in a summer billed as “the wettest summer in New England in over a hundred years”. I jumped puddles, and curbside streams walking down to nearby Spot Pond for my evening prayers. It is a mile or so down to where the trail enters the dripping bushes beside a small beach, then winds through the hardwood and pine forest out to the secluded granite point that’s been my late night praying place the past few weeks.

On several evenings I’ve heard low laughter and seen two heads of a young couple taking a late night swim in our town’s drinking water a hundred feet off the small beach. I don’t bother them, and they don’t bother me. Its nice to know they love each other enough to sneak over and spend quiet time in the warm water, even if, technically, you aren’t supposed to swim there.

Can’t say I’ve obeyed that good and doubtlessly necessary rule myself on all occasions. On a dark night, when I’ve walked a mile and am dripping with sweat, that water looks too good to resist. Shhh! Don’t tell anybody, but I’ve taken to not only praying, but skinny dipping out there off my private granite rock praying perch. In fact, last night I was sitting up to my chin leaning back against the granite, and a crawdad crawled up behind me and out onto my shoulder. Seems all God’s critters are having a tough time obeying the “no swimming in Spot Pond” rule this summer.

Just read this lyric to my wife, Judi. We’ll be married 29 years in five more days. My heart still starts thumping like Walt Disney’s Thumper in the movie “Bambi” every time I see her. The other night she prayed, “Lord, thank you Skip and I could share these years together, holding each other up during the tough times, and enjoying each other during the good times.” She was referring to the same sort of “changing weather” that is a part of every long term relationship, and most short term ones, too. We’ve been through some storms in our life together, and that makes the sunshine and blue skies all the sweeter…

Here’s that lyric…

I’ve Seen the Weather Change

I’ve seen the rain clouds dripping and dropping,

I’ve seen the butterflies dance ’cause its stopping.

I’ve seen a new dawn wipe the sky’s page.

I’ve seen the weather change.

I’ve seen the green tree lift dripping branches.

I’ve seen an eager lad taking his chances

With a lovely young lady who makes him feel strange.

I’ve seen the weather change.

I’ve seen the sunlight turn into clouds

When a summer’s storm rolls in.

I’ve seen those dark clouds etched with bright rainbows,

When the sunbeams come beaking again.

I’ve seen young lovers quarreling and fussing,

I’ve seen those love storms, their tender hearts mussing.

I’ve heard their sorrys when they forgive.

They’re learning to love–that’s learning to live.

I’ve seen the red roses petals unfolding.

I’ve seen old lovers, their grand hymn composing.

I’ve seen blessed lives that Love’s rearranged.

I’ve seen the weather change.

I’ve seen the sunlight turn into clouds

When a summer’s storm rolls in.

I’ve seen those dark clouds etched with bright rainbows,

When the sunbeams come beaking again.

I’ve seen the rain clouds dripping and dropping,

I’ve seen the butterflies dance ’cause its stopping.

I”ve seen blessed lives Love’s rearranged.

I’ve seen the weather change.

Yes, I’ve seen the weather change.

It seems strange, now,

But I’ve seen the weather change.

c2009 Skip Johnson

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