One Thing After Another
Sky black with clouds
Heavy rain
Great and powerful wind
Earthquake
Fire
These words, with one exception, could well describe a few of the highlights of recent days in my drought-weary community. We could also add heat advisory, evacuation warning, road closures, flash flood warning and power outage.
Only I didn’t cull the above list from Cal Fire reports dropping in my inbox or NOAA weather reports, though I checked them several times a day.
Nope.
Those words didn’t come from the story of my week, though they do fit (except for the earthquake, which no one is sad about). The truth is, the story of my week led me to those words. Led me right to a story in 1 Kings.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the Rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
A week like we just went through around here gave me a new feeling of kinship for the beleaguered old prophet who lived through that scene.
Maybe he didn’t experience the fear of evacuation or the inconveniences of power outages, but here was a man who, in the days before the worst of that weather display, had gone through three years of drought, a campfire competition far beyond any Eagle Scout’s merit badge experiences, and a foot race under a sky black with clouds and a heavy rain.
As if this were not enough, poor Elijah then embarked on a forty-day run for his life into the wilderness. And, somewhere in there, he also suffered a brief bout with depression, which, who could blame him?
Weather words may be what brought Elijah’s list to mind last week, but the thing that compelled me to open my Bible and read 1 Kings 17-19 were the words I knew came after the fire.
And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Who would expect that? Who would expect a gentle whisper to take center stage in that drama of wind and fire?
Unexpected words are often what transform a list into a story.
So it is in the stories I live. When one terrifying thing comes after another, I can choose to make a list that weighs me down and drowns out the gentle whisper of God or I can look for the unexpected. I can open my eyes, mind and heart to story.
Elements of Story
Let’s do that now with another list. This one consists of four elements considered necessary to every good tale.
Setting
Characters
Conflict
Resolution/Transformation
On weeks when conflicts in the shape of firestorms, thunderstorms pandemic-, political-, or relationship-storms show up in my story to transform my occasional Garden of Eden settings into vicious wilderness, I struggle to sense the presence of God. These conflicts too quickly turn me into an unimpressive character huddled in shelters too flimsy to save anyone.
Perhaps, that is because so many things I don’t know are set against the things I do know. And unknowns shout loud.
I don’t know if the hurricane heading my direction will blow the wildfire toward my home or away from it.
I don’t know if said hurricane will quench the blaze or bring on flash floods or (who knew this was even possible?) both.
What I do know doesn’t always even make sense of what I don’t, either.
For though the Bible clearly states God is ever-present, I am told in Elijah’s story that God was not in the wind or earthquake or fire.
From that same source, I know God is love. So why did Jesus sleep through the storm when all along he had only to command stillness from the wind and waves for the sake of his terrified boatmates?
Then again, the disciples had Christ with them right there in the boat, but they did not sense God’s presence in their storm any more than Elijah did in his. Perhaps, no more than I see God’s presence in the fiercest middle of my storms.
For even though the all-powerful God has said He is with me always, both in His word and in so many of my personal stories, I often look for comfort and safety in lesser things like favorable weather forecasts and positive fire-status reports.
This messy mix of knowns and unknowns appears as inconsistency and does not line up tidily in a list. Instead it asks me to sit in the mystery of story. To sit and watch and wait and trust the Author.
Stories in Real Life
However much I prefer stories to lists as a reader, that doesn’t always transfer to the stories I live. Though in theory, I want my character transformed, there’s never a time when I welcome a disturbance in my pastoral setting. I don’t want conflict. Not in my real life.
Only, without disturbances, sorrows, and struggles, how can one live in the wide wonder and mystery of story?
So, I look at my conflicts against man, nature, and self through a story lens, knowing resolution and transformation are on their way.
And in the storm-tossed minutes and hours and days when I don’t remember?
I have found that, by and by, a gentle voice shows up to remind me.
Whatever your setting today, whatever your conflicts, I pray you will know His strong and gentle love in the story He has written.
Thank you Jody. This was such a good reminder!
You are so welcome, Carol! I’m glad it was timely for you : )
As always Jody, your writing is beautiful, poetic, paints amazing word pictures, is honest, heartfelt, and gentle reminds us who has everything in our their control. Wherever we are in our journey, no matter the obstacles we see in front of us, God is already ahead of us clearing our way and waiting with open arms to greet us! Thank you for using your God-given talents and sharing hem with us!!
Thank you, Debbie. Your words further the story and the work of remembering. And I greatly appreciate your encouragement!
I love this. You truly inspire people to pause, reflect, & carry on. Thank You!
Thank you for your encouragement, Colleen! I love knowing people are inspired. It gives me a sense we are growing together : )
Very insightful Jody! Thanks for creating and sharing!
Thank you, so much, Paul! I’m glad you enjoyed it : )
Jody- thank you! Again, you have a memorable way of saying what so many of us are thinking and feeling. Reminding me Jesus is with me in the boat and in the conflict- that often whips up without warning. I’m learning to listen for the whisper and respond to Him with faith. Every story is a new test right? With all the weather drama last week, I’m Thankful you and your house are still standing!
We are thankful for that, too!
It’s interesting what you say about stories being tests. I suppose they provide both lessons and tests. Will we notice? Will we remember? Will we listen for that whisper and respond to Him in Faith? I’m so glad for the opportunity to grow with each plot twist. And I think, if we recognize the tests in our stories, we are more likely to respond with an attitude of prayer. Anyway, that seems to be the pattern for Algebra tests as I recall! I’m going to give this some more thought.
Thanks you for your insights, my friend : ).
Thanks Jody. Loved this … “the disciples had Christ with them right there in the boat, but they did not sense God’s presence in their storm any more than Elijah did in his. Perhaps, no more than I see God’s presence in the fiercest middle of my storms.” What a great reminder that I am not alone when I’m the middle of my storms, that those in Jesus’ presence also experienced fear and disquiet.
I like this format with story continuation as a link. It gives your reader the choice and keeps your newsletter a bit shorter.
Thank you, Carol! You know what it means to a writer when something resonates with a reader. Thanks for letting me know. And I greatly appreciate your thoughts on the subscription message format, too. Super helpful.
“For even though the all-powerful God has said He is with me always, both in His word and in so many of my personal stories, I often look for comfort and safety in lesser things like favorable weather forecasts and positive fire-status reports.” This is so true for me, too, Jody. I want to pray with more faith in the goodness of the Giver than in the rightness of my requests.
Save me from this Lord, but “Even if the fig tree does not bud…. even then,
I will be happy with the Lord.
I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.” Habbakuk 3:17-19