We’ve had unusually unsettled weather this spring, with many scattered showers punctuating our sunny days.

On my morning break one day last week I was walking outside the office when it began to sprinkle.

Just a handful of drops dotted the pavement, with the first drying up almost before the others hit. I was sure I had plenty of time to finish my walk without  getting wet, so I didn’t  bother to increase my pace. As I approached the door I noticed that my jacket sleeves were quite damp, though, and I just made it inside the building before the rain began to come down in earnest.

The rain was still falling as I picked my way between the puddles in the parking lot at the end of the day.

Driving home, peering through the windshield wipers, I thought about how those first few drops had led to this full-fledged rainstorm. Even though the first drops had little effect and, landing on pavement, didn’t even nourish a thirsty plant, they were absolutely necessary for this storm to have come.

Something…someone…has to be willing to be first.  Without a first there can be no second, no hundredth, no millionth.

I think there is a lesson there for all of us.

Most people would be willing to be the first at something if they were guaranteed success. We admire the successful pioneer in most any field. We don’t usually remember those who came before, attempted the same thing and failed.  Fear of failure is a powerful force, too powerful for many people to even attempt to overcome.

Fear of being the first and failing can lead to inertia and paralysis. Or at least to a lack of achievement.

The same is true for organizations, such as women’s ministries.

Sometimes, as ministries, we let the fear, not of failure, but of less-than-success, keep us from trying new things.  We don’t want to go to the effort to carry out the new thing God has inspired us to try for fear that it won’t make a significant impact in the ministry.

What if we are the first to reorganize our structure, to have a walkathon, a girls’ night out, a community outreach, or whatever and it makes no tangible difference?

What if we are the first raindrop and we hit the pavement, sizzle and evaporate? The pavement may be cooler for the following raindrops, it may take longer for them to dry up, and, eventually, if God has sent the storm, the deluge will come.

If we are to be available to do God’s will, we must be willing to be the first raindrop.