Storms

This morning I woke up, took a shower, walked to the family room and sat in my favorite leather chair.  The morning was calm and peaceful.  The weather was cloudy and warm.  As I was reading, a sudden explosion of thunder rocked the windows panes and shortly thereafter a nice steady stream of rain started to fall.  I opened the windows a bit just to experience the event.  The smell of fresh rain, the loud thunder; it really was awe inspiring and, yes, enjoyable. 

Storms hold memories for me.  As I stared out the window, contemplating and reflecting, I was taken back to when I was young and used to sit on the porch with my dad enjoying the storms.  He taught me the awe and wonder of a storm.  I also remember having to get under my desk or lining up in the hall in the fetal position waiting for storms to pass.  Memories raced to prom night when I put my girlfriend's father's car in the ditch and spent the rest of the night pushing his car out of the ditch, in a snow storm.  And more recently, I had thoughts of the ice storm in Kentucky that was so severe that I ended up spending the night in the showerhouse with my bible, my gun, and a head light waiting for daybreak that seemed to never come.

But mostly I like storms because they are awesome reminders of the power of nature; the power of God.  Storms are unpredictable and change, at times, almost immediately.  Storms make me feel small and, in some ways, helpless.  They remind me of the power and "bigness" of God.  They show us that no matter how important we think we are, we are at the mercy of God and his protection.

So thank You God for the storms.  Thank You for the reminder of Your power and majesty.  And help us to remember that, in the storms of life, You are just as awesome and just as big and that we are at Your mercy and still under Your protection.