Many years ago Hurricane Hazel showed me how severe

      a hurricane could be.

Then a few years later Hurricane Agnes  hit

    and I experienced again

     not only the pounding rain and high winds and flooding

     but also hours and days of the unknown.

So I watch the weather reports and find myself continuously scanning

  the hurricane tracks.

It is nothing to take lightly or dismiss.

The potential for great harm is there.

Last year I watched as my beloved hometown, Owego,

  faced heartbreaking loss and destruction from Hurricane Irene.

Stomach sickening

No words to describe the pain.

Today we watch and wait again.

While the rain pours outside my window

  my heart turns north

  and  I pray for so many.

The watching and waiting can be so hard, can’t it?

Then I remember Jesus walking towards Peter.

Do you remember the scene? (Matthew 14:22-33)

Peter and the disciples had gotten into the boat to sail to the other side.

A storm arose

    a big one.

While the waves crashed and the winds howled all around them

   all of a sudden they saw a form walking towards them.

Fear gripped them but then they heard His Voice

   calling to them.

“It is I.”

Oh joy. The Master! It was their beloved Master!

The waves were still thrashing.

The wind was still howling

    but He was there.

“Don’t be afraid.”

All around them there were still reasons to fear.

Everything they saw and heard.

They knew the waters well. They knew how deadly storms could be.

But Jesus called them to look beyond their physical senses;

   to look to Him. The Lord of all.

There He stood walking on the water

     showing them (and us) Who He really is.

Let’s never forget that He is with us

    calling our name

    speaking words of peace in the midst of the storms.

Accept the things we cannot change

    says the Serenity Prayer

The winds. The rain. The storms of live.

  Then change the things we can.

   Ourselves.

 Take steps to prepare as much as we can

    all the while receiving His gift of Peace

    and Presence.

In the midst of every storm He is there

    calling our name and speaking words of comfort.

Shining His Light in the darkness.

Let’s not ever forget that!