storms

Rain, wind, flood. Maybe snow. It’s all in the forecast for our county this week.

It’s easy to dwell on the weather when you see the rain come down outside your window and the trees begin to sway. When weather news pre-empts anything else on TV.

I haven’t been this prepared for something since our son’s birth almost three years ago. I have a bag packed, just in case. We emptied our basement of anything that would be ruined if wet. I’ve bottled some water. Packed a bag of canned goods and can openers. Filled my bathtub with water. Put fresh batteries in our radio. Gathered flashlights.

And now I wait. For my husband to get home from work (he got called in early to serve lunch to the retirement village residents; I’m glad he won’t be out in the elements tonight). Fo r the power to go out. For the winds to pick up. For the storm to rage. For whatever may come in the next 24 hours.

I feel overdramatic at times. Like a fool. Or crazy. But when the experts tell you it’s no joke. That the storm is historic. It’s not foolish to be ready.

God told Noah a storm was coming, and he built a boat. He looked like a fool to his neighbors, but he was prepared when the storm came. (I’m not saying this is a God-ordained storm.) I’ve been seeing in the Bible how God speaks to His people in the storm. It says that in Job. Jesus slept through a storm while his disciples feared for their lives. “Don’t you care that we might drown, Jesus?” He rebuked the wind and waves and asked if they had little faith.

Jesus cares about his people in the storm.

I’m dwelling on these words, instead.

But now, God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.

We sent the kids to Illinois with their grandparents. They arrived safely in the early morning hours today and are happily playing and visiting family this week. I feel a bit like the Pevensie parents in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, who sent their children to the country to avoid the London bombings. Maybe our kids will find Narnia while they’re away.

In the meantime, we wait. And pray. And hope that our house holds the winds and waters at bay.