I had an eye-opening conversation with a new client a few years back. He has a very interesting non-profit, focused on green energy and sustainability based in the Midwest and came to me in need of a business plan. He has a lot of different components to his business and a ton of ideas to protect the environment that were so simple they blew me away.

Among all the ideas that he rattled off, the one that most caught my attention was water re-purposing. Through this concept, water from storms is captured in barrels and re-purposed in a variety of areas including gardening, landscaping, lawn care, laundry and other common household chores.

I was amazed and he could tell. I laughed and told him “I guess I have just become so used to turning on the faucet and getting what I need”…He laughed at me and said, “Most of us have but around here at the first sound of thunder, first sight of lightning we get our barrels out; we don’t waste no storms”!

***

You know friend a lot of times the waters that fall during the storms of life aren’t meant to be used during the season that they fall in. What’s even more interesting is that a lot of times the waters that fall during these storms aren’t even meant to be used by us. That water that falls somehow, some way…somewhere is meant to be re-purposed…

A storm might come in a relationship…but the waters that fall can be re-purposed and used on the job. A storm might come on the job…but the waters that fall can be re-purposed and used to raise a stronger child. A storm might come on the playing field…but can be re-purposed and used in everyday life.

The next time you hear thunder…the next time you see lightning…the next time a storm comes your way; before you run for cover…get your barrels out…

Don’t waste no storms!