This weekend we experienced a category 1 hurricane—Hurricane Earl. I watched as the winds progressively picked up, stronger and stronger. I watched the trees as some of the leaves were shredded and torn from their branches and strewn across my property and plastered to my windows and doors and everything else in sight. I watched it rip a thousand small crab apples from my tree and deposit them on my property. I watched the trees bend nearly in half from the strength of the gales. I listened to the sound of the wind and rain beating on my windows. And where were the birds? None were to be seen. They had all taken shelter from the storm, shelters provided in God's world to protect them and shield them from the storms of life. More than 220 000 people lost electricity, a time to shut down the world of electronic noise and listen to the sounds of their own lives. The rains helped for a short time to moisten the dry ground. To bring much needed refreshment to the arid land
Following the hurricane, the winds continued to blow strong for another day. The clean-up began around the neighbourhood. Missing items retrieved from another's property. Trees, limbs, and twigs were gathered from the lawns and roadways. Leaves were raked and bagged for collection. The sound of power saws still rings out as fallen trees are cleaned up. The sound of hammers resounds throughout the neighbourhood as small repairs take place to roofs and siding that came loose.
Then today the winds have subsided. By times they are still. The cooler air has been pulled into the region by the tailend of Earl. And life begins to go back to normal ... whatever normal may be.
I was struck by the similarity of this to human life. I believe that God is the master of the universe, and what a story He has to tell. When I look at those trees and the stress that they were put under and watched them survive, I was awed. But why would I be? Their roots are deeply planted into the Earth, giving them a strong foundation. They have been given the ability to withstand a lot bending under the strain and yet to bring themselves back upright again. The leaves they have lost, they will rebuild and start afresh with a new spring. The limbs that are lost are only those things that are not healthy parts of the tree, those parts of it that may sap their strength and their worth, and that they may be better without, allowing them to grow stronger and healthier.
How similar is this to human life? I believe that God does not give us more than we can handle, and He gives us the tools to handle it with and offers us shelter from life's storms. Where do we go wrong? Perhaps in not trusting in that. We have the strength to bend without breaking and right ourselves again. We have the ability to shed those things (and yes, people and situations too) in life that are not healthy for us and to surround ourselves with happiness and joy and love from those people willing to share it with us. Ultimately, God wants what is best for us and is there to lend a hand. We must trust and reach out that hand. Michaelangelo captured this well in his painting of Creation. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:God2-Sistine_Chapel.png)
Be strong. Have faith. Believe in a power greater than yourself. Believe in yourself too. Great joy, happiness, and love are there for you if you just reach out and trust it. Be brave. You are worth it!!!
