If the torrential rains have not been enough indication, please let this blog post serve as your reminder to stock up on storm supplies. The month of June may be a crowd-pleaser for sports enthusiasts due to the NBA Finals, but it also heralds the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. This is the long-awaited moment for many weary students who will turn their tassels and embrace a new season in their lives. Presidential hopefuls throw their hats into the ring and the circus antics will surely ensue. We’ve been here before. We. Know. The. Drill. But this year seems different. Recent worldwide events have been more like watching a horror movie plot unfold in slow motion and wondering what the director was thinking.
With a tax break dangling overhead as the carrot to spur our storm-preparedness shopping, the most common search keyword is "stormproof." Merriam-Webster defines stormproof as impervious to damage by storm: so tight as to exclude penetration by wind, rain, or snow in time of storm. In a world that is deluged by the onslaught of shocking news and tragedy, is it possible to thrive? The eagle is an inspiring bird that should serve as a bellwether for us. This majestic bird ascends high above the storm and uses the pressure and turbulence as "free fuel" that conserves its valuable energy (since it is not continually flapping its wings). Ironically, if there is no wind resistance at all, the eagle is unable to soar.
Salvation is preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. Yet every human being on the planet has experienced hardship because life can be a beautiful mess. The irony is that the eye of a storm is both dangerous and safe. Although it is a place of stillness and quiet, outside of that boundary, tremendous damage is guaranteed. The eagle is of the nature to embrace turbulence, but first, it chooses its altitude and position purposefully; it does not blindly fly into the chaos without a plan. Neither should we. The exposed ends of an eagle's wings are completely waterproof, providing insolation and repelling both rain and snow. Likewise, the deep work of The Holy Spirit can stormproof our lives and steady us.
I suffer from motion sickness and often use the horizon as my focal point whenever I brave the open waters. This month, you may be honoring a graduate who is about to set sail toward the future. Or, perhaps, you ARE that graduate! Diplomas and degrees may provide some storm resistance, but eternal storm proofing is divine. There is no better time than right now to assess the foundation of your life. Do you run from the storms or toward them? Destiny waits just behind the turbulence. The Architect of your life has designed you so that the storm surge will not overwhelm you. The raging waves are no match for the solid anchor of hope. You can thrive in an active hurricane season because of an active Savior!
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Wendy, you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge and comparisons. Your analogies are perfect and you always touch me with a reality that I can use in my own life. Thank you for your dedication and consistency. Especially here in east Florida, we know the meaning of being stormproof in every sense of the word! 😘