Revealed by Storms
[Keep me in prayer. My sarcoidosis is acting up and I have to give 16 talks in 4 States in the next 8 days. Fun! Then, I get back for a quiet last week with my son before he begins a new life in the USMC]
Today, the Orkneys are part of Scotland. They aren’t Scottish by blood or history, but by marriage. They were part of a dowry arranged back in 1472 — not that long ago in Orcadian terms since some of these islands have been inhabited for the last 5500 years. Take the two hour sail from the northern edge of mainland Scotland or take a flight in from Aberdeen or Edinburgh and you enter a strange, wonderful land. It is also a land that held spectacular secrets until an incredibly powerful storm erupted from the North Sea and tore into the Orkneys, rearranging the coastline and wiping out communities.
It also revealed a community — Skara Brae. Lying there underneath the sands was the most important Neolithic site in Europe. Eight houses, complete with stone furnishings, connecting passageways, gathering centers, and worship areas laid hidden until the 1850 storm peeled back the island and let us see monuments that are considered the equal to the pyramids of Egypt — except much older. Forty other ancient monuments are nearby — everything from huge burial chambers to standing stones. One such collection of three consists of the Standing Stones of Stenness, the mighty Ring of Brodgar, and the great mound of Maeshowe. It is estimated that it would have taken over 100,000 man hours of work to build this complex that is illuminated, inside and out, only at sunset on midwinter’s day. (if you are looking up these sites online be aware that some people spell Brodgar as "Brogar.")
Such beauty, precision, thought and planning — revealed by storms. I began to wonder: what have storms revealed in my life? I might be able to hide a lot about who I am, what I think, and what my priorities are when the days are easy, the bills are paid, and my family is safe and healthy…But what happens when the storms come and the carefully constructed layers I keep between me and the world are peeled back?
Rochester Church is going through a good time, though we have seen our share of storms and will certainly see them again. What will we see when the storms come? What will remain afterwards? What lies underneath?
We had a great Easter Sunday (photos and story at www.karagraves.blogspot.com) but now we face yet another dark April day with temps hovering near freezing, tax day galloping up on us… How will we respond?
I’m not going for the cheap and easy "application." I’ll let you take care of that. Storms never create anything. They don’t establish character. They reveal it.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Storms truely show what lies beneath the mask. I have recently been going through a stormy time in my life, spiritually and emotionally. I have come to the conclusion that those storms are just a tough if not tougher as the storms that life brings to the financial, familly life, physical part of life. (Yes these affect the spiritual and emotional and visa versa).
In all these times I have had my times where I withdrew and yet when I return, I find that My Savior has been there with me through it all. I was able to get back to the blog today and read all that I missed. Each and every one spoke to me, reminding me of what I need to do constantly during the storms in my life.
Satan likes to have us believe that we are alone, but WE ARE NOT!!!!! Jesus has risen and is with us ALWAYS. Each person in our life is also learning, growing and going through their own storms or struggles. Don’t we all need MERCY and GRACE.
I have a way to go to get where I want to be as a servant of God but I have been reminded that I am not alone and do not need to do so only using my strength and ability.
Thank you God for using the many illustrations that Patrick has shared to show me the truth.
I’m not sure if this is the “right” thing to do, however
I would like to ask prayers that as I search for a place to worship that God will help me find the place where the healing can begin. That I will not let fear of judgement or rejection keep me from reaching out. Thank you!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
“Storms never create anything. They don’t establish character. They reveal it.”
This immediately made me think of my beautiful mother, who took care of my dad through two years of treatments for cancer, and relied on God for strength through all of that, especially when he died 9 years ago. I admire her for a lot of things, but her faith in God is what stands out to me. She is a great example to me and all those around her.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Thank you for postings on 16th and 17th. They helped me turn my eyes back to what is important, Jesus Christ, and off the evil of this fallen world.
We are remembering your family and your son. God bless you all.