When we are born we are very close, I imagine babies and the very young commune with God continually, but as we get older and we become more involved with the "world" we slip away from God and into the worldly things of this life.
If we could just be still, turn of the noise of this life, worries, strife, all to do about nothing, we could hear the whisper of the voice of God.
We've been away and in this world so long, it's tough to shut off.
Kevin and others have been blessed to stay where they are and continue communing with our Lord.
1 KINGS 19:11
The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord , for the Lord is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
I have a wonderful son who is now 8 years old and is the joy of my life. When he was seven the world was full of wondrous exciting things. A balloon, a paper airplane, a piece of string, a tin can, a mud puddle, cuddles, hugs, bedtime stories, and all the rest of the simple pleasures that life holds. He taught me to find fun in the simplest of tasks, look for the magic in imagination, and to enjoy every minute. Seven is a great time.
One of the biggest lessons that my son has taught me, and I will never forget, was one of the best things that I will ever learn. We have a shop/barn located about 300 feet from our house. One day, a few years ago, he and I had to go to the shop to get some small tool for a repair project in the house. He was 4 years old and had to go with me as it was just the two of us that day. On the return trip there was a heavy shower of rain. Puddles of water, drippy trees, brisk wind, leaves falling, and I wanted to hurry and get out of the elements. He was holding my hand, splashing in the puddles, and dawdling along. As I was getting soaked he asked "Dad?". In my exasperation I replied "WHAT?" (more forcefully that I should have). He said "Isn't it a beautiful rainy day?"
I stopped in my tracks, looked at him, hugged him, gave him a kiss and then we spent the next 15 minutes spashing in every puddle that we could find. It was great fun.
I have thought of his lesson hundreds of times. It is all a matter of how you look at life, it is your choice how a situation appears. It has helped me to brighten my outlook and try to joyfully accept whatever comes my way. This process is an ongoing personal improvement project, and stories like the one that you posted about Kevin, help to remind me that "beautiful rainy days" are everywhere, you just have to see them.