You had to be there to appreciate the passion of the moment: I was standing in the doorway of our canvas garage, waiting for a friend to pick me up for a Toastmaster's meeting. Wind howled and swirled in, under and around the fabric protecting our car. Rain lashed the roof and sides of the structure, drowning out every sound except its own.
My voice raced across the yard, driven by the forces of nature. So what, I mused, this is the perfect time and place to practice my speech.
And practice I did.
Protected by the dark and the din, I let loose. We'd just come through a nasty local election and I was ready to thunder!
"So what do we do now?" I demanded of the wind and water. "How do we deal with the aftermath of such hostility?" I called out with fingers pointing to my imaginary audience and arms flailing as if to emphasize the importance of my query.
Then, in a final plea for answers, I called out: "Who is going to fix things? Where do we go from here?"
It was at that point I saw the headlights. I straightened my jacket, composed myself and stepped out to where I'd be seen. Though dignity was restored, I didn't get to the answers.
Entering 2012 we face a veritable storm of uncertainty. Human wisdom alone, like the fury of the wind and the rain, brings no resolution to our problems or peace to our hearts. Jesus offers both.
"In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge until these calamities have passed by."
"And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest"
No storm is stronger than His power, no question beyond His wisdom.
Blessed 2012 New Year's greetings!
