There are Storms Brewing

I awoke early this morning, able to see lightening flashes from a storm far to the northeast of us. Those flashes, even from a distance, were enough to start my mind thinking that maybe morning storms were brewing.

Apparently Jenny Dog had the same thoughts, because she became restless too.  So the two of us, neither really sure we wanted to get up, did.

We sat on the porch. I looked at the building clouds.  I checked the radar which told me that the storms were far away, but which also told me they were moving in our direction.

And as I sat there, other storms came to mind, some prompted by emails or Twitter or Facebook or blog posts. A man we prayed with Sunday whose sister died suddenly on Saturday and who is hurting. The woman whose husband committed suicide a month ago who is so graciously sharing her thoughts and feelings with my readers on Difficult Seasons. A Twitter/Facebook friend who is struggling this morning under the weight of family needs, which bring up another struggle that has been behind him for decades, but which lurks, ever ready to return.

Life storms are a natural part of life, just like the thunder storms brewing this morning.  The thunder storms are welcome, however, especially in this season of drought in Southeast Texas.  The life storms — not so much.  But I’m learning that they too bring the elements of growth, of new life, even as they leave marks of their passing behind.