A pretty major storm went through our area last night. It was one of those storms where everything is quiet, and then suddenly thunder starts crashing and rain starts teaming. It only took a couple close shots of chain lightening before the power went off and then, adding more drama to the storm, everything got very dark.

Off to the china cabinet my wife went in search of candles, while the boys and I went in all directions looking for flashlights. Our middle son was working at the radio station, so I headed up to make sure all was well there. The back parking lot was like an ocean, so first I moved cars out of the water, and then headed down the road toward the station.

It was a very odd storm with a mixture of chain and sheet lightning. The rain would come and go, sometimes hard, sometimes not so hard. Making my way toward the station I also found myself avoiding tree branches along the way. All the time our oldest son was riding shotgun keeping his eyes peeled for big puddles, tree branches, and from time to time, even bigger branches. In the end, all worked out well. I think the power was out for a couple hours, but nothing major really happened.

The storm reminded me of what life can be like sometimes. Things are going well, when suddenly along the journey we find ourselves in the midst of a storm that seems to come up out of nowhere. When the storms of life hit us, how do we respond? Many panic, some bury their heads, while others declare “Oh woe-es me!”

How should we respond?

I’m reminded of the story about a group of men who suddenly found themselves tossed to and fro in a boat in the middle of a storm. The Person riding shotgun that day calmed the storm with a single word. So the story goes, the men found themselves safely on the shore, out of the storm.

So, did the storm stop completely? I really don’t know. But I do know this, the Person riding shotgun that day calmed the storm and helped the men find rest on shore. I also know the same Person is available today to help us find our way safely to shore too, when we’re in the midst of the storms of life.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus