Tornadoes, Twisters and The Wizard of Oz

I very rarely have nightmares, but when I do they are often about tornadoes. In my dream I am frantically trying to get to the basement while the funnel cloud gets closer and closer. The tornado hits just as I'm reaching the basement steps.

Then I wake up.

I'm not sure where this subconscious fear comes from. As a child growing up in the Midwest, we had our share of tornado watches and warnings. I remember one evening when a tornado touched down one-half mile from our farm. We were all in the basement--except my dad who was still outside.

Maybe my fear stems from not knowing what was happening to him or maybe I just watched Dorothy try to unsuccessfully escape that twister too many times in The Wizard of Oz. Forget the creepy monkeys, it was the tornado that I didn't like.

On Thursday evening this week, a tornado touched down near my parent's home in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Their home received only minimal damage, but my mom heard the twister pass over the house while she was in the basement. Close friends, Curt and Mary, were watching the storm and finally decided to head for safety. As they were going down the basement stairs, Curt looked back only to see the room they had just been sitting in, go sailing in the air.

Many lost everything.

I cannot tell you how thankful I am that my nightmare didn't become a reality. Fear is a funny thing. (Actually, there is nothing funny about it.) Sometimes it quietly slips in and wraps itself around your heart. Other times it comes roaring in like a funnel cloud.

Both stem from an inability to control the circumstances around you.

Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." Did you catch that? Not if. When.

Sometimes I think as a grownup rational person, I shouldn't be afraid. And as a pastor's wife, shouldn't I have this faith thing all figured out?

Sorry, folks, hate to burst that bubble, but it's not happening.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

I like that. It acknowledges my humanness and my times of fear, yet reminds me where I need to have my trust and focus--on Someone who is bigger. On Someone who is in control.

On sunny days. And in the middle of tornadoes.