Welcome to the Classic Speaches Podcasts presented by BYU Speaches, bringing you treasured talks from 70 years of BYU Devotionals.

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This devotional address entitled, Watching It Rain, was given on September 16th of 1997 by David M. Randall, then a BYU professor of music.

I'm reminded of a survey that I recently heard of in which people were asked to list their

greatest fears.

The majority of those surveyed listed giving a talk as that which they feared most.

The second most feared activity was that of dying.

I suppose that one could deduce from this study that most people would

rather die than give a talk. Preparation for this devotional has been a most interesting

experience. It has given me the chance to more closely focus on an area that is becoming increasingly

important to me.

I seek for your faith and prayers that what I have prepared will be presented clearly

and that you will find value in its content.

During my 26 years as a faculty member at the BYU, I have discovered that age has a relative

matter.

If you continue to work and absorb the beauty in the world about you, you find that age

does not necessarily mean getting old.

Rather, it refers to a continual process of developing and maturing. In my case,

it refers to an ever-increasing desire to fill my mind with things that will make life more

productive and meaningful. Age has taught me the importance of using all that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report,

or praiseworthy to create a shield in my mind that can ward off temptation and assisting

...