A relaxing evening seemed ideal. It had been hot and humid and the forecast was for monsoon weather and thunderstorms across the valley. As I stood on the patio, it was obvious that this was not going to be “run of the mill” dust storm.
It was picking up momentum rapidly; the wind was increasing, and as it moved through, we were now being deluged with rain. It was exciting to be able to take it all in without so much as a drop of water on my clothing.
As the storm subsided I shared with my wife concerning the quickness with which the birds had returned following the storm. As we conversed, the phone rang. That same storm had poured hail on an area not far from us and major damage had resulted. The lady was deeply concerned because her skylights had been severely damaged and there was nothing to stop further water from continuing to pour in. With tarps in tow, I was on my way.
She was not alone as dozens of skylights had been damaged, patio roofs had been completely removed, windows were broken, screens were torn out, and trees and branches were strewn everywhere. Rushing to beat another advancing storm, with lightning all around, I still felt compelled to stop for a moment and look at the large amount of hail that still remained in the area. At the first home I could have shoveled buckets full.
Recalling a storm in Northern Minnesota in the spring of 1976, I studied the difference in the types of hail. There I had picked up some hail the size of tennis balls. It had splattered more than these ice-cubes. These had appeared to be more like one-half to three-quarter inch pieces of gravel. The damage was significant to say the least.
As a child, sitting in our home and watching a hailstorm in progress, I was hit by a piece of a fuse that came from our electrical meter area. It never slowed up my fascination to sit in the midst of storms. There was such an abundance of hail on that occasion that we picked it up, poured syrup over it, and enjoyed our own “natural snow cones”.
Most of the verses of Scripture that use the word “hail” appear in the 9th chapter of Exodus. God used that judgment to bring Pharaoh to his knees. The devastation was so great that it got the attention of an entire nation. It was not the only judgment, but it was one of ten that God used in freeing His people.
The final judgments to be dealt on this earth will include earthquakes and “hail”. (Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:20, 21)
We saw how a few minutes of hail could upset a community, and how the “vultures” of humanity can play upon hurts of others by charging exorbitant fees and raising the level of their fears. We have witnessed how people can “justify” much higher costs if insurance is involved. It was a pleasure and joy to assure them that we do business as unto the Lord and our principles remain unchanged from day to day.
I am reminded that the storms of life can be enjoyed by one and endured by another, and that the distances between blessing and judgment are but a step at most. Nothing can touch us without His approval. His love is “new every morning” and this being “the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it”.
ETCetera 