What a week of history it's been.
The worst tornado outbreak of our lifetime ripped through the south two days ago. I had such a peace and a calm during the 2 1/2 hours we were in the basement. I knew the whole day was a recipe for disastrous weather. Our Tor:Con index rating was a 9 on an 8 point scale, and the sky and wind just felt ominous every time I stepped outside. Despite all of that, though, I felt calm the entire time. I knew the importance of watching the weather radars and gluing myself to the tv. I also had the basement unlocked and ready to go at a moment's notice if a warning was issued, so I know my calmness had nothing to do with naivety or false hope. My peace had everything to do with the overwhelming touch of a Great Comforter and Provider. Nothing more, nothing less. I know that He has promised to only work everything for my good (Romans 8:28), and nothing earthly can ever harm my eternity. I'm an eternal thinker, now, thanks to the change that God has made in my life, so the glass is always half-full. What an amazing feeling that is!!! Don't get me wrong, I have my fleshly freak-outs, believe me! But, I try my best to think of those things eternal and not earthly. God was covering my family with His powerful and loving hand this Wednesday afternoon. WAS HE EVER! As reports began to come in of the severe damage literally ALL around us, I couldn't help but praise Him at what He had brought us through unscathed. Remarkable. Unbelievable. Unworthy am I. So many others were less fortunate than we were. My heart breaks over and over again at every new story I hear and every new picture or video I see. So many people lost everything. Entire towns, like Smithville, MS, have been wiped. off. the map. Every business in that town was destroyed and bodies were strewn in the street. No doubt much worse than a war scene. The pictures of Tuscaloosa are unrecognizable. There are so many people suffering right now, and God spared me. Unworthy am I. Unworthy. am. I.
Now that I've depressed you all.....let's move on to the other historic event that took place this week. Crazy that these two events have been interchangeable for the last two days. "Look at the devestation in the South. So terrible. Now, let's get back to our Royal Wedding coverage. Be sure to set your alarm clocks for 3 am so you don't miss the festivities." Say what you will, think what you'll think, the Royal Wedding has been invading every portal of our country because people want to see it. No one publishes a cover story because they hope it will become important to the world. They publish it because they KNOW it will be important and people will buy it. Duh! If you want to complain about what magazines, newspapers, tv stations are selling, you should look at the root of the problem ~ the consumers. Just sayin'. But, that's a different topic altogether! Back to the issue at hand..... My dad was in the Air Force and was stationed in England in 1981, the year of my birth AND the year of the wedding of Charles and Diana. I have always felt a connection to the Royals for this reason. ;) Ok, not really, but they are interesting and pretty to look at! Ha! Anyways, I was interested in watching the wedding this morning, but there was no way I was going to trade in my sleep for it. I was perfectly fine with non-live coverage. I really just wanted to see the dress and the kiss. :) Saw them both, and now I've moved on. Hope the national media takes the same cue soon, but again, some people may want to see more so it falls on the consumer. (Come on people, get over it already!) As I watched the droves of people crowding the front of the palace, all I could think about was how MASSIVE the crowd was. Remarkable. Unbelievable. Unworthy am I. Exact sentiments that flashed through my mind in wake of the devastating storms. Different context, but same awe.
With both events, I immediately shifted my focus to God. I prayed for the storms to not have happened in vain, and asked God to lift up those who were ravaged and draw them close to Him. I prayed for specific people that I know were affected or had someone close to them affected. The majority of the people I have been praying for are ones that I don't know. Through all of this tragedy, I pray that people's hearts will be changed and that they will fully submit to the One who longs to know them. With the royal wedding, I caught the tiniest of glimpses of what that glorious day will be like when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God. Today, some number over a million people were on site at the royal wedding. Pocket change compared to the number of people who will bow down to my King and worship Him! And, I'm a member of that Royal Family! The most awesome of awesome royal families EVER! FILLED my heart with PRAISE, JOY, HOPE, and DESIRE like I've never felt before! If I'm ever in doubt, I now have a mental image of the Grandest of Grand, the Eternity I get to experience someday. ONLY by the GRACE of God! I'm a bit of a visual learner, so I'm thankful that God threw that in my path today. REALLY remarkable to think of the minute comparison that today was to that most glorious of days! CAN. NOT. WAIT. :)
