I've never been in a tornado. Being a lifelong resident of the West Coast I've seen some weather, even Alaska's bipolar variety, but I've never even seen a twister. I was in Indianapolis once, and when the siren sounded I had to ask what that alarm was all about. I have friends whose lives have been affected by tornados, and others who are now quite experienced giving aid to tornado victims, but I've never experienced either.Back when I was a kid in church I remember hearing a visiting missionary telling us what it was like to endure a tornado. Maybe it was a hurricane. I don't remember the details, but I do remember this one bit; there was a strange calm in the "middle" or the "eye" of the storm. Somehow, at halftime there was a brief respite, a momentary calm before the second round of lashings commenced. Now that I think about it, it probably was a hurricane.
Perhaps, if my metaphor has any merit, I am in one of those calm halftimes. The school year ended, so did my substitute teaching assignments. I have more discretionary time on my hands. Deb will soon go "off contract" for a month, and in the meantime with no students on campus her work world has regained some civility. We are again enjoying regular "Sabbath rest," irrespective of the day of the week. The frequency of our evening walks in the marina has increased.
But around us swirls the tornado (or hurricane.) Friends in vocational ministry are exhausted by people issues in their churches; here in Juneau we are seeing many of our friends enter a season of transition. (It's been said people here either love Juneau, or are planning to leave.) Several churches in our own city are in leadership transitions, or even denominational transitions; even our own initial gospel community is preparing to see some of our own depart for worlds south of here.
Yet in this I am enjoying a season of calm. My times in God's Word have been sweet and profound. The glorious recent weather has forced me outdoors to improve my cardio health. I have enjoyed deep time with old and new friends. My soul is at rest (Jeremiah 6:16.) It feels like I am being re-filled, topped off, knowing the days of giving if not draining are not far off.
Storms will come back to Southeast Alaska. They always do. Starting and leading a church comes with seasonal storms. It's how it goes. How blessed I am to be given calm between storms.
