If you live anywhere on the east coast from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland to Long Island, New York, then last night you would have experienced the most extensive and amazing light-and-sound show to occur in years. It began late in the evening, lasting for a couple of hours. I finally fell asleep so I don’t know when it ended, but oh my … what a glorious demonstration of power it was!
Now, I realize some of you may not appreciate thunder and lightning storms and did not find it to be fun, and to you I express my regret. Our daughter’s little dog, like you, was definitely not happy. But for me .. oh wow! I loved it.
I see such expressions of nature to be a taste of the power of God. A demonstration of the force of nature set in motion. When the lightning flashed and crackled overhead, lighting up the whole sky and earth, flash after flash – hardly one faded when another lit up in its place or overlapped the first – I smiled and exclaimed “oh wow! so beautiful!” .. and waited for the thunder it announced. Then as the thunder rumbled, boomed, crashed, rolled, I listened in awe as it was everywhere at once – both rumbling and echoing in the far distance and exploding right over my head, sometimes rattling the house. The rain came in a driving rush, pounding violently against the windows, easing off, pouring down again and again. It was a truly amazing storm.
For many people it was not very fun, waking this morning to no electrical power. I can relate to that frustration, having been robbed of that necessity too many times. There were many lightning strikes and I suppose I would not be as happy if we were hit, but it doesn’t change the awesomeness of it all.
I have loved thunderstorms for as long as I can remember, but I understand the fear that others have of them. When my children were small I determined that I would not instill that fear in them, but I did use caution. We would watch the lightning – from the safety of our house, never standing outside in it – and count the seconds before the clap of thunder to figure out how far away the storm was from us. Some storms were so close and loud overhead and the thunder would shake the house, so that a few times I sat my little girls down and we read aloud something interesting and fun to take some of the attention off the storm. It was not to teach fear but to show them to trust God and not worry.
One of those daughters during last night’s display drove with a friend “chasing” the storm and watching it from that perspective. [Did I do a fine job or not? hmm 🙂 ]
So, what do you think? Do you enjoy thunderstorms? Why or why not?
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. – Psalm 19:1
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse; – Romans 1:20
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
Polilla Writes 
I, too, am awed at the wonder of a thunder and lightening storm. I see no beauty in tornadoes, yet, I do look at storms of all kinds, even tornadoes, as demonstrations of God’s amazing power, controlled by Him, not raging out of control. I don’t think necessarily that devastating storms are sent by God. Yet, we have to admit that without God’s permission, they couldn’t happen. We trust God, even in storms. I am still awed by thunder and lightening, hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis, yet this terrible season has cause me to take warnings very seriously. Blessings to you…
LikeLike
Yes, these things are wondrous and terrible at the same time.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Carol Ann. Blessings.
LikeLike
Oh, what a beautiful description of our LORD’s handiwork! [Your writing continues to improve & I’m truly impressed with your ability to paint pictures as I read your posts. Keep posting, please.]
If my cats could talk they would say, “I ain’t scared of n-n-n-n-n-n-no storm!” That would be just prior to a burst of thunder which sends the fur along their spines straight up & then they say, “Feets d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-don’t fail me now,” as they scurry to hide under the couch. 😉
LikeLike
Thank you, Elisheva!
Funny description of your cats. I can easily picture that. 🙂
Nice to see you again. Blessings.
LikeLike
Beautiful post, so visually perfect! I absolutely love thunder storms. When I was a child, my parents always talked about storms as if they were an entertainment from God. However, if I lived in a part of the world where thunderstorms mean tornadoes I might have a different take…
LikeLike
Hi Sue,
Apparently it was the cooler temperatures that prevented this storm from turning into a huge tornado. Maybe one day it will happen … the way our climate is changing.
I like what you said … “an entertainment from God”. It’s a lovely thought when no one is hurt. 🙂
Thanks for your comment. Blessings.
LikeLike
I like your new background Lynn, very nice.
We got that storm here it was magnificent. I have lived in England and New Zealand and never heard a storm as loud and close as that. The lightening seemed like it was right outside the window.
LikeLike
Thanks, Catherine. The background is a photo I took of a local bay when the tide was out. We have the highest tides in the world here.
You know why the storm sounded so close? We are so close to Heaven here! 😉
Thanks for your comment. 🙂
LikeLike