This past Sunday it rained. Okay, perhaps that is putting it too mildly. I’m not sure that deluge is even a strong enough word to convey what happened. Perhaps most accurate would be to say that God turned the spigots fully open and left them like that for a few hours. By the time someone could find the shut-off valve, the island had received between two and five inches of rain depending on where you were. Just for good measure, we got an extra half inch from some storms on Monday morning. And then the sun came out, and Tuesday was about as spectacular as we could ever expect for an early August day here in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
While I was enjoying a morning walk on Tuesday, I was startled by the sound of a tree falling in the woods (yes, I was there to hear it, so it made a noise). Upon reflection, the fact that a tree would fall wasn’t itself surprising, as the ground had been extremely dry prior to the rain, and sudden dramatic shifts in the soil conditions can significantly undermine the soundness of certain root systems. The storm event creates damage, but the outward expression of that damage sometimes takes a while to become apparent. In this particular incident, it took a day or two for the tree to topple.
There are very few people who enjoy being in the middle of storms, whether they be physical or metaphorical. We tend to try to ride them out as best as possible, praying for the light at the end of the tunnel. When the storms finally abate, the light is finally shining, and peace seems to have returned, we want to get on with our normal lives as quickly as possible. Unless damage from the storm is immediately apparent, our natural inclination is to assume that there is no damage, and therefore we can act as if this was just one little blip that isn’t worth further consideration.
Until the tree falls over.
If we are wise, we will remain mindful that storms can create damage that occurs below the surface. There may even be subtle signs that are outwardly visible – if we are willing to look. If we look up, we may see some leaves and branches starting to die off. If we look down, we may see the changes to the ground around the roots. If we look from a distance, we may notice that what once stood straight now is beginning to lean. These are things that we won’t see if we are just trying to get back to normal as quickly as possible, but we might find them if we respect the simple fact that storms cause damage. We should also realize that frequently it is someone who wasn’t subjected to the storm who will best be able to recognize storm damage in others. This doesn’t mean that we have to stop our lives completely for a time to see if something drastic is going to happen, but we should respect the possibility that it could. It also means that if we know someone who has gone through a storm, we should be keeping a close eye on them for signs that they might be damaged. If so, we may be able to step in and provide assistance before they topple over.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron