It’s that time here again in northeastern Ohio.  Spring has finally arrived—I   think, and along with it come the colors of the season; the emerald green grass, the contrasting hues of flowering shrubs and trees—and spectacularly severe weather.  I was reminded by a local TV network this week that they were my ‘go-to’ channel when the weather gets rough.  Growing up here, you have to expect some wild weather every spring, and you learn how to keep one eye on the sky and one ear to the weather report.  Someone who moved here from the west coast once said to me, “I grew up with earthquakes, and could handle that—but tornados just freak me out!”  Indeed.

I’ve been in and around a few tornados in my lifetime and they have been some freaky moments.  One tornado I was in came out of a scene from the film “Twister”.  I was in a truck with a friend, coming back from a church function, and a tornado just dropped out of the sky as it came roaring through the woods right past us.  The truck did some levitating thing and bounced back on the ground.  I didn’t see any cows in its funnel, but there was a lot of debris flying around.  The  first tornado that I can remember makes me think of the Three Little Pigs story.  It also made me think of the wolf, "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!"  I was a little guy, spending the night at my grandparent’s house.  I remember early in the evening the sky took on an eerie grey-orange glow.  Everything was still, even the birds were silent.  Grandfather said we better get inside and we huddled in the front room as he turned on the radio—those were the days before the Weather Channel and Doppler Radar, but I think Dick Goddard was around though (It’s been said he helped Ben Franklin discover electricity).  

Anyway, there was a tornado warning out for our area.  Almost on cue, first hail started falling from the sky, then lightning was flashing and high winds and rain were pummeling the house.  The power went out, and trees and wires went down.  There was loud rumbling like a train going down the road.   After the storm blew through, granddad reassured us that the worse was over and I tried to go to sleep as he listened to the—are you ready for this—the “Hour of Comfort” radio broadcast.  The next morning we went out and surveyed what had happened. The power was still out and there was wreckage everywhere.  Our plans for the day had changed, but we were safe.  The storm had beaten up everything around us and it affected our life, but the things that really mattered—they were safe.

Here’s a word from God that is a wonderful promise from Psalms 91:1, "He who dwells in the shelter of The Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  It goes on then to say in verse 4, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." Verses 9 and 10: "If you make The Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

Perhaps the ‘tornado season’ is blowing against your life now. There's the night terror, some flying arrows, and the stalking pestilence; but God says very clearly it will not come near you.  He says, "If you make The Most High your dwelling, it will not befall you.  No disaster will come near you."  It sounds like our night in a tornado.  Everything around us was getting blown around but the core was safe. 

A little while ago, Ann and I went through one of those tornado times.  We’ve been involved in health issues with friends and life situations of people close to us in a really tough financial situation. We’ve had converging problems with cars, inanimate objects at home, dealt with death and taxes, and are struggling with people close to us who are far, far away—we’ve been experiencing a lot of rough weather.  You say, "Hey, come on, I’ve got my own list." I'm sure you do.  But in it all, Ann and I said, "Thank you God—the core is okay."

The core—it's your relationship with God, your relationship with your family, and your central mission—your ministry, who you are.  The wind outside may be doing tons of damage.  The wolf, the devil is huffing and puffing and windows are rattling and shingles are flying off the roof.  But maybe you can say as we did, "Lord, thank you for protecting the core."  It's important during a tornado to see the difference between the core and the non-core things in your life, and often it’s in the eye of the storm that we see most clearly.  Sadly, we spend too much time on the non-core things and when a storm hits we realize our house is built on sand.  If your house is built on rock, don't over-react when things are blowing around. It's tough, but it will pass.  Guard carefully the priorities that keep the core things healthy and don't let the storms take you out of those priorities.  Oh, and praise the Lord that while the pressure is on, you can't lose what really counts.

You say, "Well, the devil got into the core already."  Then drop everything and fight for what he's trying to take.  Remember that no one can touch the center core of your relationship with Jesus Christ. You've got that forever.  Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, "I am persuaded that He is able to guard what I have committed to Him until that day."  Let the winds howl and the storm rage.  It may do some collateral damage around you; it may affect your lifestyle, but pray for the core.  Fight for the core.  Thank God the core is safe.  You see, if the core is okay, you're doing fine.

What are the core things of your life and how are you maintaining them?  Strengthen the core—reinforce those things that are valuable in your life. 

During tornado times, we, like Piglet may whisper out during the storm for our companion—our spouse, family, a close friend—but we can always be certain that we can reach out and find the hand of God.  We can be sure of Him.

Doppler Days,

Art