The last few days have been tough around here. We seem to be in the midst of the stormy season lately. Even today there can be heard the rumblings of thunder in the distance. Just north of us they are being soaked in even more rain. In some respects this is a very good thing. Before long the rains will stop to be replaced with constant heat that lasts into October. The rare exception to this forecast is with the pop up storm or a slow moving hurricane. The grass that lies green now will be a memory. So the more rain we receive now is an extra benefit that may help with the coming heat. Right now we just can't plan too far ahead for outings, games, or yard work.

With spring rain comes the threat of even worse conditions. The risk of a tornado is small but it sticks in the back of your mind. So we watch the skies or the weather forecast to try to be ready. One of the problems with these ongoing meteorological struggles is that wild weather seldom sends a notice beforehand. That is what happened Saturday at the Dallas Cowboys headquarters. By now you have seen the news coverage of the storm that decimated the indoor practice facility there in Irving. Television cameramen left their equipment running to capture the event on tape. Photographs are in newspapers and other websites giving an account of the carnage the storm left behind. More than a few of the people in the midst of the walls coming down stated that it took a miracle for no more people to be injured than there are now. I heard one mention that he went to the early service at his church on Sunday. Odds are we would go too if we escaped something like that with our lives intact.

One of our former players here was caught up in the maelstrom. One account mentions he was one of the last to report to the locker room after helping look for victims. Several of the huge linemen did the heavy lifting to enable some to escape fallen doors and such. A reporter mentioned how the coaches went around giving instruction to the players prior to emergency crews arriving. Even the trainers spent most of the time after the crash tending to injuries in preparation for medical services. Perhaps it is the odd closeness that I have now since one of our own is there that keeps my attention on the collapse. Maybe it is because of the fitting analogy that was written on Saturday afternoon.

We deal daily with all sorts of small crises in our world. Most of these we can handle by a simple adjusting to the obstacle. But there are the occasions when something comes at us that crashes all around us. Far too many people simply stare at the wreckage and do nothing. Some might stand around pointing fingers not of rescue but of blame. We may even have others around us who try to encourage of guide us through but we may not listen. Our emotional system goes on overload to the point we can barely breathe much less move. Then we may try to go on with living without dealing with the debris all about us.

None of the above are good options. Crises do happen in the life of everyone who is drawing breath today. Those who are connected to God can look beyond silver linings to His very presence. We can know there are others around us who do care about what happens to us. We can hear their encouragement wisely since it is born of their experience with God. Even if the calamity is self inflicted we can know there is hope. Scripture never says we have to stop living just because we fail. Storms come to all. It is the one who builds life on the eternal foundation that withstands the winds. Sure there may be damage around us but the character of our life can remain strong. Nothing can happen around us to change what God can do within us. That is how He can make a miracle out of our messes.

Bro. Trey