I am a girl that grew up a half an hour north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where a thunderstorm was just that: a thunderstorm. There were no threats of tornadoes as long as I lived there, except on the one occasion in 1998 with the series of F0 and F1 tornadoes. Even then the most people lost were a bunch of trees in their yard or a roof to their garage. Now that I live in Southwest Missouri, I have a whole new perspective on stormy weather.
I remember my first experience with tornado weather like it was just yesterday. (I know that’s a cliché saying, but it’s true!) I decided to go to college at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO in the fall of 2002 after high school. (That’s a story for another time.) My second semester of classes in 2003 was my first spring in the Midwest. I remember living on 3rd East of the Leslie dorm when the alarm went off and we all had to grab our pillow and run down to the first floor. I was so scared because I’d never had to react to such a threat. This, of course, happened to be the spring when Stockton and Pierce City were leveled by the tornadoes. Missouri’s way of saying “welcome,” I guess.
Well, today we had another thunderstorm. No severe threat was involved, but the rapid way the wind and rain picked up happened to get my heart racing, as usual. As soon as the rain started to fall, it was blown sideways because the wind was so fierce. Soon thereafter, quarter-sized hail started to fall from the sky and fly sideways hitting our screen door. Of course, if you’re from the Midwest, quarter-sized hail is nothing compared to the size you’ve seen in the past. From my perspective, the short storm was pretty fierce and the rain let up within about a half an hour. When the precipitation was over, the wind stilled blew something fierce and our electricity went out. Awesome.
Within what, I think, may have been about 20 minutes, there was absolutely no breath of wind, the sun was shining and the clouds were scarce and feathery. As Liz Lemon would say, “What the what?” This Missouri weather is so emotionally unstable and unpredictable that I am completely blown away every single time (no pun intended.) This instability, however, leads me to a constant fear whenever there is any threat of a thunderstorm. Good thing I have a husband that will step out into the middle of the street to stare up at the sky and see what the clouds are going to do. In the meantime, I’m taking cover in the basement or bathtub as soon as those sirens go off!
This all brings me to remember the magnificent majesty of my God. Even though the storm may frighten me, I need to remember that God is the one causing this storm to occur. The beautiful calm after the psychotic storm is the part that I look forward to every time. There is such a peace that I can’t help but think of my King. There is a lesson after each physical storm that reminds me there is a calm and peace after the whirlwind of life. The only One that can provide that perfect peace is my Beloved. What a good lesson for this season of my life. Thank you, Jesus.
~Elaina
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
