When The Thunder Roars
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2009
This morning I awoke to the sound of rain beating down on the roof and thunder roaring in the distant sky.
Storms often evoke a multitude of feelings in me. I am in awe of the majesty of the sound of the thunder, of the steady pour of the rain, and the healing and growth that it can bring. But I also have a tendency to see the gray clouds and miss the sunshine. I hear the thunder and memories of storms past flash through my mind. Lightning that strikes can cause a forest to catch fire and become engulfed in flames. The same rain that brings life to all manner of trees and crops can cause floods that bring utter destruction. And the winds can whip the clouds into a frenzy that forms a tornado that can destroy a home in a matter of seconds.
The rain this morning seemed like it would never end. It came down swiftly and relentlessly. I pictured running through the downpour and getting drenched and being miserable for the entire day. It made me think of life and how it often has storms of its own, and how it can leave me feeling like I’m drowning and out of control.
It’s so easy to look at all the negative things in life and think that life is no more than one storm after another. But the truth is that at some point all storms will end. Like the one this morning. The rain began to slow, and the thunder began to recede. Eventually the storm and all traces of it were gone for good. The sun peeked out through the clouds, even though it was ever so slightly. Hope works like that. In the midst of the most horrendous crises in life, it is inevitable that there will be bright spots. That there will be times when we will laugh and love. That we will see that life isn’t all bad, but that there are moments that bring joy, whether they be short glimpses or long intervals.
Even after the worst storm has begun to pass, it is possible that you will see one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights imaginable. The rainbow reminds us that even after havoc has been wrought in our lives, there is beauty that can come from it. All you have to do is look for it…..
POSTED BY KRISTIN AT 11:18 PM