Warning!
Can a hurricane be a wake up call from God?
I find it interesting that Americans gripe about the lack of information received from intelligence agencies before the attack of 9/11. “If we had only known,” they say, “then we could have prevented this.” Not so.
That’s a statement of pure hindsight. Like on Monday morning saying that the quarterback shouldn’t have thrown to the end zone because the pass was intercepted.
Want proof?
Despite the fact that the Galveston hurricane of 1900 killed over 8,000 people and more recently Camille devastated the gulf coast in 1969 … and despite the fact that our weather forecasting has improved since then and people in the area were given plenty of warning … over 50 people have been reported dead in Harrison County, Mississippi from Katrina. 30 of them chose to ride out the storm at a beach side apartment complex inappropriately named “Quiet Water Beach.” The Associated Press reported that one 55-year-old woman stayed there despite a mandatory evacuation order and after the hurricane had to paddle out a window to swim to safety.
Even when warned, people often ignore the warning as ridiculous. For some reason people think they would never become the victims of some vague threat that isn’t real. Not just people who rode out Katrina, either. People like you, when you don’t the warning on the cigarette package applies to your lungs and keep chain smoking, or when you don’t think the “Road Closed” sign really means anything, or when you choose to ignore the truth that sugar and sweets mean extra pounds. Or when you think you have years and years to live, or think that happiness is a home filled with gadgets, or think that human resolve and ingenuity is stronger than the forces of nature. Think again. Heed the warning.
So can a hurricane be a wake up call from God? Most certainly. And that’s a good thing. In the Old Testament God told his prophets to predict there’d be a drought in the land for years to show that he had power over the pagan idols relied upon for good weather. In Egypt God sent various plagues of nature to warn stubborn Pharaoh not to play games with the Almighty. Jesus himself stirred up storms on the Sea of Galilee and then stilled them to get the attention he needed from his disciples who were so weak in their faith. All of these were warnings from a God who doesn’t explode in a fit of frustrated rage at people who are turning away from him.
The only time you issue a warning to someone is if you’re more concerned about their welfare than your own. Therefore, as a result of Katrina, let’s consider God concerned about our welfare. He wants our attention, which admittedly is often distracted by what isn’t so important. He’ll do what it takes to turn our focus to matters of utmost importance, like faith in Jesus that makes us ready for eternity and equips us for life right now. Like helping other people more than ourselves. Like taking a good look at possible flaws in a security system or government protocol.
As Rita bears down on the gulf coast do you think more people have evacuated because of Katrina? It would appear that way. Well, lesson learned. Warning heeded. As Katrina victims find their loved ones and put the pieces of their lives back together to you think they have a greater appreciation for what is truly valuable in this life? Faith, friends, and family? Warning heeded. As observers undamaged by the hurricane consider the chaos and reconstruction, do any of us find ourselves thinking about God and his role in this scenario? Aha. He’s got our attention.
God would rather not put his hands over his eyes and toss his bouquet of blessings over his shoulder hoping someone finds it. Instead, he “warms up the crowd,” so to speak, and wants to interact in a lively, personal, experiential relationship with people. But firsts he needs our attention.
PRAYER: God, there are times when you could just let me go my own merry way and if you did, I’d then be lost. Sometimes it’s a painful lesson to learn – that you are the giver of all good and the forgiver of all guilt and the provider for all bounty. Sometimes, when I’ve turned to other sources for those blessings, you have sent me a warning of some kind that has made a mess, like Katrina. Since this is where you thrive in your search for people, give me and all who are troubled by Katrina a true heart that recognizes your interested love. The open that heart to trust in your ways, appreciate the gift of your forgiveness and peace, and serve you by serving others. Amen.