I grew up in Oklahoma. We were right in the middle of tornado country and Spring always announced itself with great and stormy skies..
The horizon would grow dark as blue-black clouds rolled and tumbled and filled the sky. I was well aware of their power and growing strength as my heart beat faster.
Anticipation, fear, and awe took turns inside my spirit playing follow the leader.
We were taught what to do. Mom would meet us at the door if the storms found us outside, and then we sat in the den on the floor, watched Gary England, (our meteorologist) on TV, and waited for Dad to come home. As a little girl, I remember Gary England so well. He always told us what we needed to know about the impending storm and he did it calmly. I was comforted by the sound of his voice. I trusted him.
If Mr. England changed the event, from "thunderstorm watch" to "tornado warning" before Dad got home, Mom would get nervous and scared. I could see her wearing it. Being the oldest of three girls, and not quite a year younger than my brother, I watched my parents and listened to their conversations a lot. And when Mom got scared about the impending tornado, so did I.
If Mr. England changed the event, from "thunderstorm watch" to "tornado warning" before Dad got home, Mom would get nervous and scared. I could see her wearing it. Being the oldest of three girls, and not quite a year younger than my brother, I watched my parents and listened to their conversations a lot. And when Mom got scared about the impending tornado, so did I.
But the moment Dad came through the door my fear flew away. I just felt safe when he was home. He never showed any signs of worry, he just changed out of his suit, and then we'd all go to the garage together. Dad would then snap on the radio, open the garage doors, and line up the lawn chairs side by side.
As long as the storm lasted, the five of us would sit like that. Dad and the kids. Mom never joined us. But we would watch the clouds roll and shift. And I'd scoot to the very edge of my chair and gasp as flashes of lightning shot across the sky, then hold my ears as gigantic booms of thunder vibrated my bones.
At times the sky grew so dark that I held my breath and just when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, the sky would break open and pour down buckets full of rain.
The hail made my sisters scream but my brother ran into it like a superhero proud to show us the red whelps he brought back inside with him.
I was transfixed watching our green grass turn into a glassy white blanket.
At times the sky grew so dark that I held my breath and just when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, the sky would break open and pour down buckets full of rain.
The hail made my sisters scream but my brother ran into it like a superhero proud to show us the red whelps he brought back inside with him.
I was transfixed watching our green grass turn into a glassy white blanket.
Dad put us inside the bathtub only once that I remember, and when I saw the look between my Mom and Dad, I knew the tornado was coming. Dad left us in the bathroom for a minute and came back with a mattress from one of the beds. He told Mom to get in the tub with the four of us, and then he leaned the mattress over our heads.
The tornados sirens were howling outside as we sat there and then, , we could barely hear Mother singing. When everything quieted, in that stillness, I thought it was over. It wasn't.
The howling wind came back. It sounded like a train was coming. And then... it stopped. Dad put the mattress down, and told Mom to keep us there until he came back.
When all was clear we got up and out of the bathtub. Shortly after, Dad said, "I 'm going to drive around and see what the tornado did. Anyone want to come with me?"
I did. And that evening it was just Dad and me.
I don't know how far we drove, it wasn't too far when Dad pulled over and parked the car. We both got out. We walked a little until we saw a family wandering outside on a lawn down a street. There house had no roof. "Look," Dad said as he pointed it out to me. "It's over there."
The families roof was balancing on top of a house down the street.
These people, in shock and disbelief, were letting people go inside their house. I didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but Dad said, "Let's go in."
The tornados sirens were howling outside as we sat there and then, , we could barely hear Mother singing. When everything quieted, in that stillness, I thought it was over. It wasn't.
The howling wind came back. It sounded like a train was coming. And then... it stopped. Dad put the mattress down, and told Mom to keep us there until he came back.
When all was clear we got up and out of the bathtub. Shortly after, Dad said, "I 'm going to drive around and see what the tornado did. Anyone want to come with me?"
I did. And that evening it was just Dad and me.
I don't know how far we drove, it wasn't too far when Dad pulled over and parked the car. We both got out. We walked a little until we saw a family wandering outside on a lawn down a street. There house had no roof. "Look," Dad said as he pointed it out to me. "It's over there."
The families roof was balancing on top of a house down the street.
These people, in shock and disbelief, were letting people go inside their house. I didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but Dad said, "Let's go in."
Inside the house, their TV was still on but it didn't have a picture. I heard Dad talking to people about couch cushions and books on a shelf.
I wandered into the kitchen.
On the kitchen table, was a vase of red flowers. I stared at it while the people around me talked.
That vase of flowers just sat upright on the peoples kitchen table. Right there in the pretty vase.
When I looked up from their kitchen, I saw the sky.
On the drive home, Dad told me that tornadoes had strange power. He told me when he was a boy he saw a rake pushed through a telephone pole once after a storm and that a neighbor's cow had been found walking in a field over a mile away from their farm.
I wandered into the kitchen.
On the kitchen table, was a vase of red flowers. I stared at it while the people around me talked.
That vase of flowers just sat upright on the peoples kitchen table. Right there in the pretty vase.
When I looked up from their kitchen, I saw the sky.
On the drive home, Dad told me that tornadoes had strange power. He told me when he was a boy he saw a rake pushed through a telephone pole once after a storm and that a neighbor's cow had been found walking in a field over a mile away from their farm.
Something changed in me that day. I did not understand the things I saw and heard. How could a roof be torn off a house and placed on a house down the street? And how could a vase of flowers still be sitting on a table after the roof got ripped off?
Even then, I knew God had all the answers. He knew all the things that I did not. But after that day, I saw a bit more of God's power and glory in the lightning. I smelled more of it in the rain. And I heard more of it in the thunder.
I know too, that it is present now even amidst the destruction of the current seasons storms. So I pray for the people who lives are forever being changed by them. But, as I remember the red flowers on the table in a kitchen with no roof, I know that God sees everyone who is suffering. I know that He loves them. I know that he can redeem their lives and make them new.
I know too, that it is present now even amidst the destruction of the current seasons storms. So I pray for the people who lives are forever being changed by them. But, as I remember the red flowers on the table in a kitchen with no roof, I know that God sees everyone who is suffering. I know that He loves them. I know that he can redeem their lives and make them new.
So may they see your goodness, Lord, and may feel your great love.
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