I m just spiritually thinking out loud- The tornado sirens began to go off shortly after Chaplain Waverly and myself had left Oklahoma City followed closely by Chaplain Richard Phegley who had just turned Deputy IC over to newly arrived Chaplain Pat Thorpe. Gene Grounds had just passed us near mile marker 31 going north of I-35 as we headed south and were approaching the Red River. Waverly and I had spent a half day pulling together the last elements needed to get the VRM Whitehorse Riders in the loop with RTCA in Oklahoma with Council President (Remington Park) Phyliss Bunch and several race track chaplains and we had just left the VRM team that was serving at the South Gate Baptist church in West Moore right off the ground zero of the tornado destruction path. Everything was "Normal" when we were at the church that serves has the disaster relief/family assistance center. People were picking up items at the center, we talked to people who were arriving new from VRM and talking to ones about to depart- everything had that normal feeling. Within an hour we had people calling for prayer as the sirens went off and people began to seek shelters in various towns and communities and especially around Guthrie. The pastor at South Gate closed down operations and VRM teams went back to their campground. Normal had turned suddenly back into the unpredictability of an approaching tornado and it had people on edge and in panic- understandably so. I thought about that as I think about this same thought whenever I am deployed at a disaster site. How fast beautiful skies turn dark and violent, how serene a sea can seem to be before a storm churns the water into chaos or a fire breaks out on a cruise ship sending people scattering to safety. A man kisses his wife good bye as he heads to another normal and safe day at the office only to be killed at a ATM machine or find out his wife died from the sudden arrival of a tornado- normal is often fleeting and everything turns on a dime and debris fill what was once a school or place of business or a home considered safe. Where am I going with all this.....people think they always have time to "get right with God" or "resolve issues with the man upstairs" or tell their loved ones just how much they love them because they have time later to do all that. Christ said- Acts 1:7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority." In Oklahoma City my sister in law survived the bombing of the building and suffered through the murder of her son and few years ago, both days started out as "normal" but abnormal events occurred in the blink of an eye with life changing consequences. For those reading my rambles at 130a do not assume that you are even guaranteed a sunrise or sunset today. If things are not right between you and God...you need to get it set right now and put your life, your hope and faith in His hands...because storms are coming people, in fact they are already here. Better to be sheltered n the promises of God even as you prudently make plans of preparedness. BUT mark my words you know not the things coming- only God does. We have heard plenty of stories from survivors of the Moore Tornado how they found normal routines changed that resulted in them not being home when the tornado hit. God is here with us, He grieves with us, He hurts with us when the storms of life are allowed to be unleashed and just because we are believers does not mean we will not be impacted in the storm and even if protected will still suffer in traumatic losses. So grab today- sieze the day! Hold it dearly to you. Thank God you even have a "Today". Live with purpose, with power and in love! So right now, if your moments of facebooking is normal, remember it can all change to abnormal in a split second. And do not count on the fact you have time to get all the forgiveness or asking for forgiveness done in a timely manner. You are not privy to the times are dates allotted to you. Blessings and a big thank you to the VRM nation and to all who are serving and praying!
Posted on: Fri, 31 May 2013 06:42:51 +0000