Hurricanes

September 14, 2018

Sitting by the fire in our backyard, it’s hard to imagine the storm raging through the Carolinas, leaving destruction and death in its wake. Here, stars twinkle overhead, the air is warm and still as we watch Weather Channel video showing the wind and rain and its resultant flooding. It’s dark, but the grandkids bounce on the trampoline while I watch the flame flicker and dance in the darkness. 

Praying with the kids before bed, the juxtaposition of the hurricane wreaking havoc with the peace and calm we are enjoying made me think. And pray. God’s blessings aren’t collectibles to be sitting on our spiritual shelves, to be dusted and admired. They are his investment in us, designed to multiply as we share them with others. There are people all around us going through personal storms of hurricane proportions. They’re being battered and driven before the wind and rain of adversity, but unlike hurricanes that are undeniable, these storms are often hidden beneath a stoic demeanor, wreaking their havoc in the inner recesses of heart and soul, leaving behind shattered lives. 

We prayed for the victims of the hurricane, but also for those engulfed in their own private storms, asking for eyes to see beneath the facades, and for hearts to reach out to those in need. I am thankful tonight for grandkids who are willing to wade into other people’s storms, bringing hope and help to people in need.