By: Jennifer Richardson Holt
There are storms coming so today will try to be brief. I have said I would be brief before, but I may just mean it today. Dangerous times are heading my way. They will come in a variety of forms, and I have no idea what exactly to expect. There will be storms that tear apart the atmosphere and rip down trees but there will also be those of another breed. These will be the type that are made of fire and test the mettle of the heart. I am not particularly excited for either but, in knowing that both varieties are coming, I now try to pause and contemplate what I can learn from the tumult.
It will begin with the coming weekend. By the time you read this the severe weather will have already passed. I am prayerful that you will not have any news stories of horror to recount the events. I have seen before terrible predictions by meteorologists that reinvented themselves into not more than some nasty thunderstorms by the time they arrived. Judging by the forecasts I am seeing, unfortunately that doesn’t seem likely in this case. However, I have seen some inexplicably miraculous things occur when people of faith pray mercy and protection into a situation.
The brunt of the storms will come, yet again as they have in almost every case thus far this season, in the wee hours of the night. I loathe that fact but alas, I suppose if we could schedule these things we wouldn’t schedule them at all so we must cope with the timeframe we are given. My family will likely not sleep much watching the weather and trying to stay aware. This is not abnormal for springtime, but it is probably the worst part of the season. It is helpful to know what is coming so that one can prepare, but it is not so good for anxiety. I am not sure one can ever feel truly ready when they know that a massive dangerous storm system is barreling their way.
The storms that will not be of a natural sort I will leave a bit more vague. They are of a more personal nature to me and my family. These are unpredictable much like the ones that will bring lightning and wind but can be just as significant or insignificant. Only time will tell. Unfortunately, these tribulations will not be one night of uncertainty but will likely last somewhat longer. I may choose to write about them depending on what becomes of them be it positive or negative. Either outcome could provide for meaningful content.
But what should I be taking from the trying times? I have always heard it said that storms make trees grow deeper roots. I hope that is true of me. I hope that I seriously consider what my life is founded upon and the things that are truly important and focus on those things. I hope I do not take small things for granted or overlook the good things that seem insignificant. I also know storms blow away things that are not firmly anchored, and sometimes even those aren’t safe. Any type of wind be it paired with rain or be it the form of difficulties and challenges can serve well to strip away the trivial and make you truly evaluate your foundations. May the coming tempests give me deeper roots and file away whatever rough edges there are to be found in my life. Even if I come out the other side damaged and marred on the outside, may the person inside be a testament to good coming from even the most dreaded blast. This is my prayer.
Prose and Possibilities 
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