when the storm breaks

“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

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The spring day is suddenly gone

dark clouds roll down the mountains

obscuring the sun

roiling down to the earth

pervasive and gloomy

darkening the world

sucking the light from the day

and all we can do

or so it seems

is run for cover

and hide

seeking safety

and comfort

waiting until the storm passes

and we can emerge

unscathed

unchanged

but there are all kinds of storms

the are hurricanes that roar through our heads

thunder storms that create chaos in our hearts

storms that create chaos in our soul

sometimes the storm rises up from the depths of our being

sometimes the chaos comes from without

a sense that we have failed

or another shooting

our bully brain telling us we are not enough

or another injustice

storms that leave us stripped bare

bereft

muttering under our breath to God, Job like:

“Turn away from me so I can have a moment’s joy

  before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness,

  to the land of deepest night, of utter darkness and disorder,

  where even the light is like darkness.”

They are inescapable these storms

Try as we might, we cannot hide

There is no shelter

The storm will touch us

Change us

Transform us

What we fear is that the storm will overwhelm us

That we will be left with a wasteland

a shattered lifescape

that it will be too much

that all the evil and hate

all the failure

and the inadequacy will roar over us

and we will be helpless

and will be blown away

into the darkness

and yet

and yet

There is the One

There is Love

Who will not let us go

Who will not abandon us and leave us “orphans”

Alone, and fending for ourselves

There is the one who is with us in the storm

And we can echo the words of Isaiah (25)

“You have been a strong-place for those who could not help themselves

and for those in need because of much trouble.

You have been a safe place from the storm

and a shadow from the heat.”

God calls us to overcome evil with God

God does the same

There is healing to be had

There is transformation on the way

Yes, the darkness comes

And settles

But the sun is on the way