The wind was picking up. It had been getting stronger all day. Rain was beating up against the house and had been doing so for some time now. No one was venturing out side. A hurricane was on the way and it was forcasted to hit the town where I lived with my Mother, Step-father, and our dog, “Wookie,” a dachshund. We listened all day to the radio broadcasts concerning the approaching storm. Since this was a time before television, cell phones, and battery operated radio, we relied only on the radio and when electricity went down there was nothing to provide information on what was transpiring. All we could do was wait out the storm and hope for the best. The noise of the wind and rain, as it increased, had its effect on me.
The day before we had gone down to where my Step-father kept his boat and took it way up the bayou as far away from open water as possible. It was tied up, in an area where there were many trees, with long rope lines so the boat could rise with the incoming tide and not sink the boat.
Also being considered, was the location of the boat as it would rise with the water, was where the trees were located so if one was blown over it would not fall on the boat. (I remember after the storm as we were taking the boat back to the its basin, we noticed a number of boats that had been sunk by the storm. Going up the bayou we had to be careful so as not to hit some boat which was completely underwater.)
We lived in a wood framed house and had a big oak tree in the front yard. The house had two bedrooms, one up at the front of the house and one in the back. I had the bedroom at the back.
Now it is late, there is no electrify and no radio to hear the latest hurricane forecasts. But by the strength of the wind and the heavy rain we knew it was coming right down “the middle of main street” as the adults stated. So, being just a young “kid” I went on to bed. Somehow, I was able to go to sleep. When I woke up the next morning, there was no strong wind and no rain. The house was still there and big Oak tree was still standing. But there was something else, on one side of me was my Mother and on the other side was my Step-father. A hurricane was raging around me and all the while, the people who loved me most were right with me side by side and there to welcome me to another day. The storm was over.
Today, as I recount that episode in my life, I believe that is what will happen when a Christ Follower goes home. We go to sleep, the storms are over, and we wake up in the arms of Jesus.
Knowing that, shouldn’t we be ready and willing to do all that God desires of us, no matter what that may cost us?
Mark 4:39-40 - “And Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ’Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And Jesus said unto to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? how is it that you have no faith?’”
That is a great question. We all know where the storms are. But much more important, where is “our” faith?
What say you?
