Monday, October 29, 2012

the rain, the park, and other things







My first encounter with a hurricane was when I was in first grade, circa 1960. Riding home on the bus, I had gotten within one block of home when a good sized tree fell on the bus. None of us was hurt, but the bus was in for some heavy repairs. And I remember never feeling quite as safe in one after seeing it fold up around me, and I learned a new respect for the trees I used to climb as a kid. During that same storm a huge Weeping Willow tree blew over behind our house, uprooted, and so big that it laid for years until they built the new housing development. It exposed a root system so big that it was over six feet tall just to climb over it and onto the tree to shinny up it, as it laid on its side. And left a huge hole where it once had stood tall.
I worked for the Union County Park Commission one summer, when the rains hit. We were cleaning iris beds, and other enviable tasks in Greenbrook Park in Plainfield, when a flash flood occurred. We actually rode the rising water in the creek a 1/2 mile, ending up waist deep in the middle of a field. Dangerous, but fun, again I saw the power of a storm, and yes, the next few days we picked up branches and other debris from the storm. Bus covers children, tree covers bus, but a storm covers them all.
I was 19 years old and working at a receiving platform for Sears in Watchung. The truck court was underground, with a long ramp going down to it. As the rains came in bunches, and it ran furiously down the side of the hills across the highway, where once trees stood, now only asphalt parking lots were, with nothing to hold it back, until it hit the center median on Route 22, then spilled over the top. On one side semi truck were tire deep in water, the other side cascading over, then down the ramp, and flooding the truck court. Lots of damage to goods, and we actually rescued some people from their cars, but a co-worker and friend Keith was drowned when his car got stuck and the waters engulfed him. Suddenly it wasn't fun any more. Surf's up, Keith went down.
I have ridden many times in rain, and endured two flash floods on one trip a few years back. One in Ohio had the water up over the engine on the Tiger. Pulling off the exit ramp it got deeper, then as I rode up the road, subsided. Pulling into a gas station, on higher ground, I got off just as the thunder roared, and the lightning hit the bowling alley next to me. So much for my safe haven...I've seen fire and I've seen rain...
Then on my return trip home I had just eaten at Lucille's in Weatherford, Ok. Great food, but storms to the west-where I was headed. It was windy, but the next exit it started to rain-hard. Pulling off, a group of us on bikes put on our rain suits, then headed out again. but I pulled off the next exit, blowing around was unsafe, and when a FedEx semi blew across two lanes, I took the hint. Again rain up to my tank, and riding slow, never stopping, pulled into the Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Where a HOG group from Arizona had found shelter, and did the museum until the rain stopped. The wind would take another 250 miles into Tucumcari before I could ride not leaning over.
We are told the rain falls on the just and the unjust. It isn't people specific, it just rains. But the God who controls it is, He hears our prayers. And acts accordingly, not dependent on us asking or demanding. The true power of prayer isn't in prayer, if it was the prayers would be longer, louder, more reverent, and perpetual. But the true power is found in the one who hears and answers them, the one who controls the wind, and rain. The one who is with us in the storm-Jesus Christ. It may not be the time to correct someone in the midst of the storm, but to remind them of the one who can still the storm. Who can walk across it in high winds and strong waves. The one who can answer is always stronger then the one asking. Sometimes just a HELP! is enough, and God isn't waiting for me to ask before He acts. Good thing, so much happens when I'm asleep.
So the hurricane news, although scary, doesn't scare me-easy enough to say when it's 85 degrees and sunny 3000 miles away. It doesn't scare me because the one I pray to has it all under control, He knows just what He is doing. Do we? Do we want to know? Maybe aligning ourselves with Him would change our prayer time. Worth a try, don't you think?
Stop, look, and listen for God-just like the old rail crossing signs. It took Elijah thunder, and rain to see God wasn't the weather-He was more than the situation. You don't need to be stuck in a cave, or gas station, or museum to find God. Jesus never left you, He is in your boat, on your motorcycle, and calming the storm in your heart-which makes a hurricane seem mild sometimes. Storms will come and go-talk to the one who controls them, and watch as He answers-the true power of prayer is in Jesus Christ. Is anyone listening? His love and power are designed to take the strain out of every day living, and to guide you through the storms.
Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Diana, and now Sandy pummel the shorelines. The only shore thing you need to know is God loves you. Your protector in the storm. The umbrella of love over my life. And to celebrate-I'm going riding. It just seems a sin to not enjoy the beautiful day God has given us. No rainbow unless it rains-a reminder from God of His love to a sinful generation. As in the days of Noah....now there is a man who knows storms!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com