A Weekly Walk in the Word
with Wanda
Protection in the Storm
Luke 8:22-25 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Just over a week ago, the Weather Service confirmed 10 tornadoes touched down in our area of Minnesota. The tornado sirens sounded, alerts came over the phone, T.V. and computer for a full thirty minutes before the eerie calm was overtaken by 86 – 135 mph winds. Slowly, one by one, the neighbors came up from their basements as we met in the middle of the street to make sure everyone was safe and to assess the damage to our properties. A couple of trees were uprooted and several branches were down, but we were all OK.
The City Engineer called asking if I could make it to the Police Department where a command center was being set up. The two mile drive through town was difficult as I weaved between downed electrical wires and trees ripped from ground by their roots. Upon arriving at the P.D. I began taking phone calls from residents reporting down trees. For over a week, I have answered hundreds of phone calls, recording storm damage and listening to the residents of Northfield.
The calls were all incredibly similar. They were calls of gratitude. One call after another shared their story of how trees fell in their yards missing their house by inches. Trees fell in every direction, but there were no injuries! God is good.
Over the past week it has been incredible to watch our community come together to help each other with chainsaws, pickups and food. Through the storm, our community has grown closer one another and to God.
Don’t wait for a storm to blow though your town. Meet in the street to visit with your neighbors. Take the time to help one another with fall yard work or bake cookies to share. May God be with you and your neighborhood this week.
A Weekly Walk in the Word 