We live in San Bernardino county in Southern California.

As beautiful as it is much of the time, we are immersed in smog. A film of dirty air blankets our mountains and hangs in our neighborhoods. Between rains, the smog thickens from traffic and dust pollution. Because it’s there most of the time, we’re unaware we really can’t see.

Then, it rains! The curtain is pulled up from nature. The film is washed out of the air. Suddenly everything appears crisp, defined, and sparkling.

In May of 2020, the COVID-19 quarantine caused something remarkable to happen. Most families were stuck in their homes, so traffic was cut by more than half. The pollutants in our air dropped dramatically.

One morning, two months into the quarantine, I went out to pick up lunch for my family.

It had rained on and off for a week. The sun was finally visible; so was all of nature! I could see every line and curve, every layer, every hue. It was a visible symphony for my eyes. I was completely overcome. The old neighborhood was suddenly new, bright, and clean.

Sitting in my car I gawked… and uncontrollably bawled. It was as though nature had been singing God’s praises, but we couldn’t hear, couldn’t see — until now. I could do nothing but praise Him too!