A Close Call

Rain, wind, more rain, and a little sunshine, too! That has been the pattern here in our part of the world during the last few weeks. The rainy season officially starts each year on May 15, and we got a little shower on that day. Since then, the rains slowly increased in frequency and duration.

A few days ago, I was standing on our front porch, and I could hear a roar in the distance. We can often hear the rain before it gets to us, and I told the others who were with me, It sounds like a really heavy rain is coming.

When the storm got to us, the trees whipped around more than I’ve ever seen. Things blew off our porch, and those who were attending the sick scurried inside for shelter. Thank the Lord, the strong winds lasted for less than a minute, but a lot can happen in that short amount of time. Not surprisingly, our power blinked off. (Although we have power from the “grid,” during the rainy season frequent outages can last from a minute to a few days in duration.)

When I went to the chapel that evening, I saw our most significant damage from the storm.

If you click on the picture above, it is easier to see one large teak tree that snapped off about ten feet above the ground. This tree landed across one of the main pathways to the chapel. If you look more closely, you can also see that a very large branch of another teak tree broke enough to fall over onto the chapel roof. Amazingly, the damage to the roof appears to be very minor. There is one significant leak, but it should be easily fixed.

God is so good! This storm came about an hour before our evening worship. We hate to think what might have happened if the storm had come when children were arriving for worship. I am so thankful I don’t have to plan for another funeral for one of our students!

Teak trees are prized for furniture and lumber. The heartwood is quite dense and resistant to termites, and these trees have weathered many other windstorms. However, there was a defect, a weakness, in the trees that blew down. They were not able to withstand the test and trial when it came with full force.

What about you and me? A time is coming upon this world that will test every one of us. (See Hebrews 12:25-29.) We may look strong today, but will we stand when the strong winds blow? Or will there be a weakness in our character that will prove fatal. If we fall, we may cause other casualties as well. Today is the day to reflect upon our lives, to pray the prayer of David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23, 24.