Storms and Tornadoes

It is after 8 o’clock in the evening. Having listened a while ago to the latest news conference conducted by Governor McMaster, aware of steps to slow down and stop the further advancement of the coronavirus, we also find ourselves on this Tuesday evening contending with a tornado watch.

It was the Spring of 1973, a Friday afternoon, and I arrived early at the Naval Hospital Charleston  for my PM Shift in order to get a regulation Navy haircut for the purpose of remaining in the good graces of my Master Chief who was a stern taskmaster and rigid disciplinarian. Lee Wetzel, a close high school friend and submariner home after a three month deployment at sea, was planning on meeting me after my PM Shift in order to accompany me on an eight hour drive to our home in central Florida. Lee wanted to see his parents and some of his friends. I was looking forward to attending church on Sunday morning. Kay had made the decision to transfer her membership from her home church, the First United Methodist Church in Inverness, to my home congregation, the First Presbyterian Church. A Methodist all of her life, Kay thought the move was important as we drew closer to our planned wedding in June.

All these years later, I still remember making my way out of the barber chair, walking to a large window in the shop and watching a small tornado approach the hospital campus. The tornado snapped pine trees in two like they were toothpicks and then about a hundred yards from the hospital took a hard left hand turn as it jumped over the hospital’s parking lot. I had been careful to roll my car windows up. As the tornado passed overhead it created a strong vacuum inside, which cracked my windshield and blew out the window on the driver’s side.

Lee met me in the parking lot around 11:30 pm. A light rain continued to fall and we were still determined to make the drive. As we neared Ravenel, the wind started to pick up and the rainfall became too much. We turned around bitterly disappointed. I called Kay and shared the news. The weather Saturday morning still made it prohibitive to make a second attempt. After lunch, I drove to Lee’s apartment and with several friends watched the Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago Cubs. I have always been a Reds fan (a story for another day) and couldn’t believe it when the Reds entered the bottom of the ninth down 8-0. Suddenly, one batter after another poked the baseball to right, center and left fields in addition to hitting a home here and there. Within minutes the tide had turned dramatically. It was 5:30 pm. The sky cleared, the sun began to shine and the Reds miracuously won the contest 9-8. I immediately turned to Lee and said, “I”m making the trip to Florida!”

Interstate 95 had not yet been completed so it was two lanes here and there along with an occasional four lanes when I made my turn at Jacksonville, drove further south cutting across the state and pulled into the Marlow driveway on Seminole Avenue around 2 o’clock Sunday morning. Several hours later, I picked Kay up for the morning worship service where she stood in front of the congregation and was introduced as a new member of a Presbyterian community of faith. I was so happy. The tornado had done little damage in and around the hospital. There was no loss of life and I was able to stand with Kay as she joined the church! What a memorable moment for the two of us! Ms. Lillian, Kay’s mother, fried two chickens for Sunday dinner, one for the Marlow family and one for me! I was back in Charleston before midnight, safe and sound, and ready for my shift on Monday afternoon, working on the pediatric ward feeding, rocking, changing diapers and spoiling as many children as possible.

Tornadoes. Some have recently wreaked havoc on communities and rural areas across the South. As you know, they can be very strong and destructive, turning lives upside down. A tornado, so to speak, has suddenly hit not just here, but all around the world. Friends and neighbors have been hospitalized. We have sheltered-in-place while places of work and commerce have closed. More and more people are filing for unemployment and for loans from the Small Business Association, trying desperately to financially survive. Church campuses are still and quiet along with our local schools. In all likelihood, the scenario will not change until May. When will the tornado pass, O Lord? And what will life be like when the sky turns blue and the sun shines again? (Figuratively speaking.)

In a letter to the early church in Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote about some of the difficulties, storms and tornadoes he had experienced in life. There was danger, toil and hardship, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, cold days and nights, and the daily pressure of wondering what in the world might come next and push him over the edge. In an amazing declaration, Paul said that when life turned against him, that was the very time he prayed that the power of Christ would dwell within. Whatever hardships came his way, this was the faith of our brother Paul, “Whenever I am weak (when circumstances of life were ready to crush his spirit), then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

In closing, I am NOT prepared to say that the next few weeks or months are going to be easy. Instead, they are going to test our will, our strength, and our faith. But in a similar situation, this is what the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” If God’s grace was sufficient for Paul when life was unpredictable and harsh, I believe it will be sufficient for you and sufficient for me. May the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. And all God’s people said, “Amen!”
In Christ. +

—
Steve Keeler, Pastor