photo by Steve Lasher
I heard a tremendous thump, then a crash. What in the world was that? I looked over at my snoring husband. Remembering his alarm was due to ring at 4:00 a.m. so he could catch an early plane flight, I didn’t dare wake him. I could handle this.
I paused to listen for more loud noises. Then bravely made my way to our outside deck glancing at the clock: 1:30 a.m.
Quickly, I set the garden deck planters secure on the deck floor. But where was our patio umbrella? Last night I remembered my husband had opened it to shade our table when we ate dinner outdoors.
The wind howled and swirled as lighting flashed and thunder roared as I peered over the railing. No umbrella. I looked toward the neighbor’s back yard — still no umbrella. I walked around our house and discovered the wind had lifted our umbrella from our back deck. Apparently, it traveled airborne completely over our roof and landed in front of the house almost on our neighbor’s porch. I’m guessing it hit the roof and then the front side of our house. Too bad a video wasn’t running … a sort of Mary Poppins experience.
Oh, the majesty and power of God! I wasn’t happy about the way I was rudely awakened, but thankful it wasn’t a burglar.
This morning an old hymn we used to sing in church came to mind. I allowed the meaning of the powerful words to permeate deep within my soul.
Leaning On the Everlasting Arms
“What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms … I’m leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”— Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887
Pause and ask yourself:
Is my faith rock-solid like a mountain, dependable and unmovable? Or, am I depending on someone or something that will falter like a flighty umbrella?
“….safe and secure from all alarms….”
Ahhhh, yes … a fantastic place to be!