Several years ago, I had the misfortune to have my house hit by a tornado. The good news is that my family was not harmed, the house had a good bit of damage, but it was nothing that could not be repaired.
The day of the tornado was a rainy stormy day. I remember one of my neighbor’s dogs getting out of their fence and coming to my house to eat the screen off my front window.
The sky had an eerie green tint to it. I recall there were several severe thunderstorm warnings issued, as well as tornado watches. Hail fell several times throughout the day. And one other thing I remember, and you will understand why, is that I had left my clean and folded laundry out in our room, instead of putting it away.
At about 10:30 that night, despite tornado watches in our county, Laurie and I went to bed. I recall thinking, what are the chances something will hit us, Gwinnett (our county) is a BIG county.
At about 11:45 PM, I awoke to flashing lights. My first thought was that this was the most spectacular lightning that I have ever witnessed. Then, a little voice in the back of my head said, “this is not lightning, this is transformers blowing up.” About that same time, I heard it. The most common description of hearing a tornado is it sounds like a freight train; my recollection is that it is more like those dryers at the end of a car wash. In any case, it was time to leave and get down to the basement!
My pregnant wife was getting our 18-month-old son Bennett, while I was in charge of getting my visiting Mom down to the basement. In the rush to get the humans, we failed to get Thelma the dog. About halfway down the stairs in the basement, Laurie shouted to me to get Thelma. I turned back, forced the basement door opened and yelled for her. A surreal scene of rain blowing through the house was quickly enhanced with Thelma sliding around the corner with a very determined and scared look on her face. We all made it to the basement, as the tornado hit us directly.
The aftermath was one of shock and dismay. We lost most of our wooded back yard. Garage doors were gnarled and tangled messes. Windows were completely blown off the very tracks. The house had leaves, mud and water throughout. In looking at the back yard devastation, I saw a pair of my underwear. Odd. A little further, there was a shirt. Before long I was picking up all my laundry from mine and my neighbors back yard, the same laundry that just the night before I had procrastinated and did not put away.
So, what is the purpose of this story?
In our spiritual life, I wonder how many times we are given warning signs and ignore them?
…a rainy stormy day
…the sky had an eerie green tint to it
…there were several severe thunderstorm warnings issued, as well as tornado watches. …Hail fell several times throughout the day.
I had all the warning signs that something was going to happen, but I ignored them. In our spiritual life, the signs may not be as clear cut, but we need to get better at seeing them and not ignoring them. Unrest, lack of peace, an overall uneasy feeling, these can be signs. Notice them, listen and pray.
Luckily for me, a small voice in the back of my head told me a tornado was upon us. I listened and acted.
How good are we at listening to that voice from the Holy Spirit?
Don’t go to that website.
Respond as a loving husband.
Reach out to that person in need
Be patient
Don’t…. ______ (fill in the blank with whatever you shouldn’t do).
When the Holy Spirit is present in our lives, we hear the voice….it is up to us how we choose to respond to Him. When we choose differently than what we heard, we have guilt. Sometimes as Christians, we like to say I am struggling with whatever, but what we really me is that I am struggling with the fact that I feel guilty about not listening to what I know is right. Listen and obey.
I don’t want to be in a situation like my dog Thelma. She barely made it to the safe place; she almost missed out on the protection of the basement. Maybe just like I called Thelma, God is calling you. How are you going to respond? Thelma knew what she needed to do. She had a very determined look and ran until she accomplished the goal. Are we prepared to run To God and accomplish His goal?
Finally, while ultimately the family was safe, because of procrastination, I had to go through the humbling experience of searching for my underwear and other garments in my neighbor’s backyard. Is there something that you are putting off? Are you prepared to be humbled if you keep putting it off? Even so, the good news is that even if we are humbled, God can and will use that experience when we allow Him.
Heavenly Father, please let me be aware of the warning signs that you provide me. Let me hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and answer your calling. If I should fall short and be humbled, let me fall on the Grace you have provided through your son Jesus Christ.