I love thunderstorms. Other than here, the last one I saw was in Hawaii, a few years ago, which is very strange for that part of the globe. But that afternoon, huge thunderheads rolled in over the water, and cracked so loudly the buildings shook while lightening struck the water so often you couldn't have counted it if you had tried. Hawaii hadn't had a storm like that in many years, and if you think a storm on the prairies is amazing, one building over 2,500 miles of ocean is indescribable.
This is the only thing I love about living here, that I can't get in BC. My in-laws live on one of the tallest hills in town, near the edge of town, so you can sit in the gazebo on their deck and watch the storm come in. I sat there the other day with my little niece Naomi, my dad-in-law, and my friend Cary, and you forget, when all the mountains are in the way, how massive the sky seems on the prairies. It's completely incredible. Naomi wasn't scared at all, just a little peeved that everytime she'd turn to me to tell me that she missed seeing the lightening, it would happen again, and she'd miss it all over. We sat out there and felt the thunder vibrate in our chests, and watched the fork lightening scissor its way across the sky, touching down in fat jagged streaks again and again. It was awesome. I love the sky turing black in the middle of the day, and for some reason, I feel very close to God. Maybe it's that thing we tell children, that thunder is just God speaking, but I've really always felt that way. So did David, apparently.
" Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is majestic...The Lord sits enthoned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever" -psalm 29.
My mom-in-law said a little while ago, that God created us, and knew how to communicate with us. I had never thought of it that way. Like the girl who feels close to God when she's with her horse, or me and ol' Dave here, who experience His calming presence in a gathering storm of all places. I love that He would care enough to speak to us in ways that are relevant to us, and that I can trust that He knows how to communicate His heart, His love and conviction to people I can't. That's a comforting thought. I've been faced so often with people who you just want to shake, and scream "how can you not understand?!" (like white people in India, 'finding themselves' - personal missions pet peeve). There have been people I love who I have misrepresented Christ to, and people I will never see again, who I pray get more of a glimpse of Him than I offered. And this tells me that they will. That God is working in so many different ways across this globe, and in the day to day struggles that are simply, life. He knows, he's got it under control. "Don't worry, little one, go watch the clouds and know that I've got it, you don't have anything to worry about." Good to know. As I finish typing this, I look out my window, and no word of a lie, can see the big thunderheads building. Looks like another good storm tonight. Sweet.
11:36 AM
Nice post Honey. Leaves you with the kind of feeling that you get after a thunderstorm... a refreshing clean feeling. I agree
11:41 AM
For the first time in a long while I would like to be somewhere other than here. I would like to experience that storm you described. That is one thing I do miss. I love sitting outside in a sheltered place and watch the lightening and feel the thunder rumble and roar around me.
12:10 PM
Awww. Thanks!!
8:03 PM
I have always loved thunderstorms too. Living in Osler, if one was coming, we would gatther up the kids and blankets, and sit on our front step under our little stoop, and sit and listen. Totally amazing the power that there is. To this day, all my kids love a thunderstorm, and we have never been woken by a frightened child who woke up cause of the thunder. God is certainly wonderous.
I do miss the storms here. That is likely one of the few things that I miss. Although, Sophie ( our Shih Tzu) is terrified of any loud noises, and normally if she hears one, she goes and tries to hide. So, maybe it's a good thing we don't have that many of them out here.
11:42 AM
I also miss those prairie storms. Right now I am missing that prairie sunshine. We have had another wet spring and I am tired of the rain. I would just love to see the sunshine. Right now I don't want to see lightening or hear any thunder. That just means more rain. :(
3:29 PM
Ah, yes... one of the things that I love the most in the whole world... thunderstorms... it makes me said that I won't see really nice ones like you normally do on the prairies here... I love that my parents taught us to appreciate thunderstorms the way that I do. I love wrapping up in a blanket and just listening to the thunder and watch the lightning... Just hearing faint thunder in the distance makes me grin in anticipation of a big storm, one where the thunder will shake my house, and the lightning will strike with blinding ferocity. Normally, I want to know everything about everything, but I think the reason I love lightning so much is because of the mysteriousness of it.
8:33 AM
Mel, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday. We will all think of you tonight while we have coffee at you Mom and Dad's this evening. We will probably talk about you, too. Probably only good stuff, but...well you know how it is.
9:13 AM
Happy Birthday Mel!! I know it's a day late and sorry for that. Hopefully next time your birthday rolls around you will be here to celebrate.
3:30 PM
Happy belated birthday, Melanie!!
2:07 PM
Melanie, you would have loved your grandparents house when they had the acerage. It had a big porch with windows facing south and west. We would all sit out there and watch the clouds and lightning whenever we could. Another great family pastime.