Living on a hill means I see thunderstorms boiling up miles away and experience their fury when they reach me. Past storms blew out my back porch screens and relocated my birdfeeders to places unknown. I’ve seen large oak trees sway nearly sideways and the tall rigid plumegrass shown above flattened to the ground. Most survive, some don’t. Nothing compared to the destruction caused by hurricanes and tornadoes.
Storms seem to fall into two buckets, weather-related and everyday life. This week Hurricane Florence reminds us how one can cause the other. In both types of storms, let us help others where we can and remember who rescues us from the storms of life. “I run to you, God; I run for dear life . . . You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps . . . I’ve put my life in your hands. You won’t drop me, you’ll never let me down,” Psalm 31:1-5.