Storms

While going to and from church on Sunday I noticed that crews had been clearing tree growth from around power lines. (Notice how I cleverly snuck in the fact that I went to church on Sunday even though I was quite ill on Friday and Saturday. Thus establishing my spiritual superiority. I am so clever I amaze myself). The work of the crews reminded me that hurricane season is approaching and we are overdue having one that severely affects this area.

I have to admit that I kind of enjoy hurricanes, not completely but there are positive elements.

Storms are evidence of God’s power. I believe storms come from God. He does a much cleaner job of clearing away debris than road crews due. The work I saw on Sunday (when going and coming back from church) left trees looking misshapen and strange. Like a young boy with a bad haircut. God does a much neater job.

Storms break our routines. It’s good to be shaken from our routines; no work and no school. We get stuck in our ruts and storms are kind of like snow days up north.

Storms gather us together. During storms we usually gather with family or those who we can stand to be with for a few days without power, not always the same people. Storms often mean no TV or internet so we are forced to actually have conversation and time together which is surprising pleasant in small doses.

Storms test our foundations. In storms, the poorly built and the badly located get eliminated. Only buildings secured to sound foundations remain.

Storms strengthen our roots. I have heard that the best growing time for many plants is during storms. It’s not when with sunlight and spring rains. Botanists say that during storms many plants experience significant deepening of roots and root systems.

Storms clear away the trash. After a storm all the weak limbs, the junk left in yards, that kind of stuff, gets washed away. It’s a good thing.

Of course, not everything about storms seems good. The snakes come out. In the most extreme situations, lives are lost and life plans are changed forever. These things never seem good; although with God things work out for good.

Storms send us to God. Seems to me if we could measure prayer activity we could confirm that it greatly increases in times of fear and stress. Nothing creates a good conversation with God than hearing the wind howl, watching the water rise or seeing a few snakes just outside your door.

That brings us to the most important thing about storms. They are gifts from God. They come when they are needed to prune, reshape and improve, in the long run, our lives.

Guess it’s pretty obvious by now that I’m not just talking about hurricanes. I’m talking about troubles like financial stresses, job losses, illnesses, even deaths. These painful things, storms if you will, are gifts from a loving Father to children who need a perspective shift, a foundation check or a life correction.

Being caught in a storm should remind us that we are his children. We are in the storm because He loves us. Remember that and learn from the winds and the waves and consider them his loving breath and correcting guidance.

Stay dry and be blessed.

Nick