On Cloud Nine, really?

Do you ever wonder where witty phrases come from? Phrases like "She's drop dead gorgeous!", or "Let the Cat out of the bag" or my personal favorite "Pop a squat". Or how about the common phrase "On Cloud Nine". I mean, are clouds really numbered? Really? Well, yes in fact they are.

I checked the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, and according to them the phrase is based on U.S. Weather Service terminology. This idea says that cloud types are numbered, and that "cloud nine" is the name given to "cumulonimbus" clouds, the highest clouds in the sky, making "cloud nine" a fitting metaphor for being high on life, or on top of the world (I did again).

The funny think about this funny phrase is that in my opinion, the phrase immediately contradicts itself. It uses something that never brings happiness to describe a sense of happiness. I mean come on, do clouds bring anyone happiness? No. They bring darkness, and rain, despair, gloom, misery, depression, grief, sorrow (the list could go on, my thesaurus is full of sad words). I want to shrivel up and cry just talking about clouds. I like the sun, and the warmth it pulses upon my skin. I like to see the blue of the sky. For me, the best choice is clear. Very clear.

And you know what, it wasn't until I was 16 years old and flew in an airplane for the first time that I realized that, above all those giant joy-sucking clouds is precious wasted blue sky. That means that while I may only see dreariness and struggle, Above it all, in God's kingdom things are all blue and sunny.

This very connection between weather and God quickly bring about so many questions of life and faith in my mind. Why does life have to be full of hardship? Why can't it be sunny all the time? Why can't God make the cloudy issues disappear in my life? You know, share the clear sky? But I know better than that. I know that without clouds we would have no rain. And without rain we would have no water, no vegetation, no beauty. I guess without the gray times we wouldn't have richness in our world. Without the dark times in life, we wouldn't ever have to persevere, learn to trust, grow. I guess knowing God's up there in the blue sea, and I'm down here makes me realize that my God is powerful. Of course God has the power to clear up the difficult storms in my life, but He desires my reliance on Him. Knowing he loves and cares for me.

So God, I sure do enjoy the sunshine, but I guess the clouds have their purpose. I guess that, although your on top of Cloud nine right now, you've given me what I need. Thanks for the clouds.