However, as with any locale, Welly has its cons. If you have graced us with your presence before, you may have arrived by air, being violently greeted during the whole descent by the city mascot – "the wind."
Wellington and wind are as inseparable as the All Blacks and unceasing victory. In fact, as I write these words, 140 km/h winds are hurtling around my house, threatening to lift it away, all Wizard of Oz like. But blowing that all aside (pun intended), let's think about the deeper effect of the weather.
Have you noticed that when you wake up to the rays of sunlight, your spirit and state of mind often rise? Blue skies revitalise any weary soul.
In the same way, waking up smothered by the melancholy above - can suck the life right out-of-you. It is fascinating that human emotion can fluctuate with atmospheric change.
Joyous one moment, morbid the next. All because of convection currents. Unfortunately, these flaky emotions we feel also carries over into our spiritual lives.
This is the 'Day A' scenario
As Christians, we wake up with vigour, eager to tick boxes.
Quiet time = check.
20 minutes of prayer = check.
Didn't fall into 'that' sin = check.
On a roll.
Listened to some Christian music = check.
Evangelised a stranger = check.
Prayed for another 20 = check.
Hit the hay, you deserve it. You have had a good day. The sun is shining.
Then comes the dreaded 'Day B'
You sleep through your alarm, missing devotions as you run to the shower. You get into the car only to find you left the lights on over night. The battery whimpers with you. Throughout the course of the day, you are so preoccupied with yourself that you neglect your lifeline (prayer) and other people drowning (your neighbour, who needs your deeds).
As the sun sets on this day, you can't help but think to yourself – "How could I go from victorious Day A to this?! God must not be very happy with me".
With the weather, our state of mind changes with every tweak of the atmosphere. With the Christian life, our state of mind changes with every virtue or vice, every success or failure. If we can tick all the Christian boxes in any given day, then surely God will be happy with us.
Sunshine = God is pleased/happy with you.
Storm = God is displeased/angry with you.
But is this really the way things are? Is this true?
Like a father watching his tiny tot walk for the first time only to see him fall, again and again, our Father in heaven does the same. He watches our feeble attempts at holiness and our constant stumbling, and still His love for us is never-ending, never-changing.
Why? Why does He love us so? Christ. Jesus Christ is the answer. Jesus, the God-man, lived perfectly, died perfectly, and rose perfectly. All for you and me.
What's the underpinning?
Christian theology teaches us that Jesus lived an A+ life of holiness and then gave you his marks. The hands that sculpted the universe and all that is within it were nailed to a cross, along with all of your unrighteous failures and self-righteous successes. A bloody, beaten, lifeless body was prepared and placed in a tomb.
Three days later, the stone paid homage to the royalty within, moving aside to let Him pass. Salvation followed. Our sin stayed six feet under (as it were).
Now, when I wake, and the weather is happy, I remember that God loves me for Jesus' sake. And when the clouds close in and the winds buffet my soul, God still loves me. Despite all of my flaws and future failings (that will happen that very day), He loves me perfectly, for Jesus' sake.
In my view, and in my experience, I preach this to myself every morning. An encouraging thought is that above the ceiling of cloud and rain, the rays of the Son will always remain. Enjoy the day!
Cody Knox lives in Wellington, New Zealand. He works in ICT for the New Zealand government and in his free time he loves to read, write, and run.
Cody Knox's previous articles may be viewed www.pressserviceinternational.org/cody-knox.html