It's Raining, It's Pouring...

Seriously pouring! I believe we got at least our monthly rainfall, all on the first day of the month. (Literally!)

There is much flooding - which reminds me of my youth, and our annual basement pumping.

But I am safe and dry, and grateful for both.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Tree-in-a-Storm Pose

There are some moments that get permanently engraved into our hearts and minds. I was reminded of one while teaching a yoga class this week. We were doing "tree pose". One woman had wobbled a little and said "I was doing 'tree-in-a-storm' pose". WHAM! I was there.

That moment was back. An AMAZING moment several years ago. We were living in the other house - the "married" house. I was in fact still married, though I'd guess it was pretty much in shambles.

The house sat on a hillside surrounded by many large oaks. Behind the house was 65 acres of wilderness. That night, there was a storm brewing. It was hurricane season, and we were getting the 'blow off' of one of the bigger storms of that year. It hadn't begun to rain, but the wind had picked up, and the energy in the air was palpable.

I had returned from a yoga class, where we had practiced tree pose. The house was silent. As I headed upstairs to our bedroom, I could see the tree limbs swaying back and forth through the sliding glass doors.

The far wall of our bedroom was mostly glass - those sliding glass doors that stepped off onto a second story deck (over a full garage, so perhaps more of a 3rd story...). Suffice it to say, I was up in the air, well up into the branches of those mighty oaks.

I set my mat down and walked toward the glass doors. The room was still dark except for the light down the hall in the stairwell. Instinctively, I opened the door and walked through.

I closed my eyes as the breeze met my face. The wind pushed the hair out of my eyes and I took a deep, deep breath. "oh, how I love a storm!" I thought.

Standing tall, I began. Shifting my weight onto my supporting leg, bringing the other foot to the calf, then the thigh, arms lifting up overhead.

There I stood. Wind on my face, swaying with oak trees. Dark except for the faint light behind me and an occasional flash of lightening. Peaceful. Strong. Balanced despite the storm surrounding me. As it is with God. He would soon show me that....

I remember writing, immediately after the experience:

"Tree pose. 20 feet in the air. back lit. in the midst of a storm. is TOTALLY AWESOME!"

It was. Totally Awesome.

Watching the Storm

I had planned to walk my dog that evening, but I could see the front moving in ... F A S T! I'd noticed the dark clouds as I left the Y, but still hoped I would have time for a speedy trip around the neighborhood. No such luck.

I thought, I'd at least walk a hat that was forgotten at our house that afternoon four houses down. As I started down the driveway, a car pulled in. Hat delivered in about six steps.

Clearly, I wasn't supposed to walk. I looked again at the storm. It was absolutely incredible! It was close to dusk, but went from daylight to darkness in a matter of minutes. The dog still on his leash, we walked through the house and onto the back deck. From there, we could watch it coming.

The wind blew, the trees shook for a long time with no rain. The clouds fascinated me. I simply stood there, watching. Alternating shades of black and white, swirls of gray. Layer after layer of cloud passed by. Periodically, the sky lit up with distant lightning. Still I remained, experiencing the wind and the feeling in the air that proceeds a storm.

I was interrupted by a though: "GO GET YOUR CAMERA!" I'm sure it was a sight. Storm raging, (but still no rain!), and me, there, snapping pictures of the clouds!

I suppose it's no stranger than me sitting on the front porch with popcorn and an iced tea once the rain began! What a show!

Thank You, God for the storm.... and the safety I have experienced within it!

A Little Wind, Blowing through...

We had "some wind" come through here just the other day. I was at Wal*mart with some women from church, doing the shopping for the "Backyard Bible Club" (AKA VBS) this week. As I drove home, I noticed some branches down in my neighborhood, and one of my chairs had blown off the deck.

But, I was trying to get a few things done before I taught my yoga class and met a friend to see "UP" - a wonderful, wonderful movie- so I left the chair.

The next morning, I picked up the chair and noticed a little piece of shingle on the ground. Happens here from time to time. I'm pretty sure I said (aloud) "well, there's a little bit of shingle...". As I turned with the chair to return it to the deck, I saw another "bit" of shingle. I sat the chair down and shook my head in disbelief. There on the ground is a hunk of shingles.... a big hunk of shingles....

As I call the roofer, back and forth, through my mind run thoughts of insurance deductibles, budgets and the time I'd spent the night before going through, trying to find ways to give a little more at church. I wonder sometimes how it will all work out, and I remember Jeremiah 29:11.

Going through the mail, my new checks had arrived from the bank. I scanned the information for accuracy. When I saw it, I remembered I had added a slogan this time: "Great is Thy Faithfulness". A perfectly timed reminder.

And as I sit to write this, another reminder, a song: "I will praise You in this storm"....

In the Moment...

So, I'm sitting here, wondering what to write. Outside, it is raining, and the wind is intermittently blowing the curtains that surround my bedroom window. There is near-constant thunder, so I am sure there must be lightening.

Inside, we're cozy and warm. I'm at my desk and the kitten is curled up in the paper recycling box that sits at my feet. Since the power has flickered off twice, I have a candle lit nearby. The scent of "Lemon and Lavender" fill the room. In the background, the radio station from which I won the tickets is playing.

As the intensity of the rain increases, I pull up the "desktop radar". Guess it is a good thing I like storms: We're smack-dab in the middle of a "Severe Thunderstorm Warning". Yellow, orange and red light up the part of the county where I live. Surrounding us in every direction there is a "Tornado Watch"... Ah, yes, the joys of living in Middle Tennessee. That being said, my chances of being able to work a little extra tomorrow increase slightly.

Working or not working, either is just right. Extra money or time with a friend at the pool...

Life is Good.

Caught in the Midst of a Storm

It was the mid-day break between massage sessions. My son was being picked up from cub scout camp, which meant I had JUST enough time to walk the dog before he arrived home and we'd need to leave to pick up his sister.

It was hot, and I carefully considered whether or not I'd have time to shower again if I got too sweaty. I decided that the dog and I both needed a walk, and if I needed to shower, then I needed to shower. Somehow, it would work out.

I changed out of my work clothes into "play" clothes, grabbed the leash, and headed out. The sky was blue with a few scattered clouds. We started out on our mile and a half neighborhood walk. Soon I noticed a few darkening clouds and a haze on the horizon.

By the time we were half way around the block, the wind had picked up, and we heard the low rumblings of some distant thunder. Onward, we pressed. I was enjoying the coolness of the breeze, and anticipating the coolness on my skin as the first drops of rain would soon fall.

I love a storm. I love the feeling in the air, the sound the wind makes through the trees. I like the hush that falls over the animal world.

Soon, the first drops of rain appeared. Between the wind and the rain, the previously oppressive heat was now bearable. I stretched my arms out wide and hung my head back to feel the rain on my face. One hand held the leash while the other signed "wind", "rain" "loud" (thunder), "thank you" (God). I all but danced.

Needless to say, my concerns about being "sweaty" were unwarranted. If I needed to worry about something, I should have chosen "being soaked to the skin", "being pelted by hail", or "flooding the interior of the car through open windows".

But, no worries.... safely at home, I pulled a chair up onto the porch and sat - watching and listening - as the storm passed through.

You Never Let Go....

The song is new to me this week, though the concept is not. It's essentially the 23rd Psalm modernized. As I sat with my mentor to translate the lyrics into American Sign Language, I was reminded of a conversation I'd had recently with a friend of mine. We were discussing the goings on in her life. Her 'storms'. I was also reminded of mine.

One line stuck with me, as I read and later listened:

"And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life, I won't turn back. I know You are near"

I am grateful for the moments of darkness - those trips through the valley - when I know, without a doubt, that He is near. Those journeys are never easy - but are so much more bearable feeling His presence.

Sometimes, it is in the midst of the storms that I am MORE aware of His presence... probably because I am actively searching for Him then.

It's the journeys that more mirror the Barlow Girl's song, Never Alone, that are more difficult. Those moments where I just want to run and hide. Please tell me when it's over! Those moments are captured in the chorus of their song:


"I cry out with no reply and
I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone."

In those times, the only thing that made me believe that God is near, was that I had been told that He is. Those moments are the tough ones. They are the ones that require faith. I thank those people who reminded me - again and again - of His ever-presence. The people who pointed Him out when I could not see. The people who restored my faith when I was in short supply. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I have many of those "valley" experiences under my belt. Retrospectively, I've realized that no matter what I felt in the midst of it, He was there. He has Never Let Go. He will Never Let Go. That perspective builds my faith that in the present, or in the future, as I walk forth, He will be with me. I shall not fear.

Thank You, God, for Your ever-presence in my life. May I search for You "through the calm and through the storm". May those walking "through the valley of the shadow of death" feel your presence, and fear no evil.

You Never Let Go...

Amen.

Navigating in the Midst of the Storm

I know that Jesus like to teach in parables, so it especially catches my attention, when, in the midst of my life, I feel I am shown a parallel meaning to what I am experiencing.

Saturday night, after a long, long day of work, and then dinner with a dear friend, I am driving home.I get off the interstate and turn onto the state road that leads to my home. The road is pretty winding, with almost no shoulder. As I had turned off of the interstate, it had begun to rain. Now, there was a frank downpour.

I've been driving for a while now, so it's pretty instinctive for me to slow down a bit, turn on my windshield wipers, and continue on my way. But tonight was a little different. I realized I couldn't see the road.

It wasn't that the rain was hitting my windshield too fast, and my wipers weren't moving fast enough. And it wasn't that I was driving too fast for the road. It was that the rain was falling so hard and so fast, that I couldn't see the yellow and white lines for the blur of the falling and splashing rain. The road that I had traveled a thousand times, and knew nearly instinctively seemed to have disappeared.

So... I did the only thing I knew to do. I slowed down some more, and I prayed: "Lord, Guide me. Keep me on the road. Keep me safe." as I scanned the road for the church - and it's parking lot - that I knew lay ahead. In those few minutes, I'd occasionally be given a glimpse of the yellow dividing line, or the white road edge markings.

There was no pulling over. There was no stopping. And then there were lights ahead of me. Headlights. "Lord, guide those that I will pass. Keep us both safe. Protect us".

That's when the realization hit me. THIS is a parable I am living. This stretch of road. This storm. "Uhm, God. Could You hold that thought for JUST a minute... I need to focus on this oncoming car". It was in it's lane and I was in mine - it was going faster than I thought it should, and I'm sure I was going slower than they thought I should. Then, we passed safely. "Thank You". My ultimate prayer. "Thank You". I can never say that one enough....

As quickly as it came, the storm died out. The road was clear - a few sprinkles here and there - but the monsoon I had just driven through had passed. And there was the church - and it's parking lot.

I've now had some time to ponder the realization. Life brings storms - that can pop up quickly, and in very familiar territory. Yet, when they do, the well traveled roads become unrecognizable. The usual drive can be treacherous.

May I remember to slow down, ask for guidance and protection, continue as He leads and know that shelter is not far ahead.

And, always, always, as I make it through may I remember to say "thank You" with all my heart.