Heart of the Storm

We had quite a storm this afternoon, and everything about it was unusual.  For starters, it didn't really Coe from anywhere - it just developed south of us and immediately intensified to this bright pink splotch we spotted on the map below us.  We heard it coming for quite some time, and you could certainly go outside and sense there was trouble looming.  I was out there getting the umbrella down and getting the mail, and the area south of us had a look of dark menace.

The fact that it came from the south was crazy, and the fact that it was so intense was also unusual.  We've been spared a lot of the intense weather here, except for those universal fronts that affect everyone.  But even in those cases, we've seen time and again where a front will split in two and go around us, or dissipate at the last moment before reaching us. Those are the storms that come from the west, those usual sorts.  

But today's storm was unusual.  And look at the shape of it too!

It's a heart, and it's even pink.  If that weren't the color of crazy intense storms, you'd be tempted to think this was a nice Valentine's sentiment.  Maybe a weather person's Valentine's Day Card.  

What we were looking at here was heading straight for us, as we're north of this by not that much, just across the lake, in fact.  But this heart is currently over a few marinas on the lake, and those were hit very hard, the walkways torn up and the roofing all ripped apart.  Boats were tossed sideways in the waves, running into each other, and there was plenty of extensive damage.

It was quite a storm!

Right on the heels of this, Madison and I went out the door just as it passed over, heading over to taekwondo for her leadership class.  It was slightly more populated than last Friday, and even better, Mr. and Mrs. Edge were back from their trip to Utah.  It's crazy that they actually ran into some of our other friends in Utah, completely randomly.  

Madison was working on a tornado kick, which is ironic given the possibility of that is what there was on Lake Lanier today.  Mr. Edge was training the students in this kick that has them flying sideways and corkscrewing through the air with their legs kicking outward.  She was getting the hang of it.  Of course, with all students, you can't get it right the first time.  But these classes have been great for this training for Madison, who is getting the hang of these kicks, the elbow jabs, the use of weapons.  Oh, speaking of which, I think she'll be using a bō staff soon.  Yes, just like Donatello.  The turtle, not the painter.

We got home after this, and then it was time for a game of "LIFE."  It was a close game, but Daddy wound up having a better life.  Madison had so many kids again that she needed an extra car to tow around.  We did the regular version of the game, the one she got for Christmas.  It was fun, and we'll probably do it again soon.

Mommy had an amazing meal for us tonight, salads of course.  There were tomatoes from the garden in the salad, but there were many other things in there that just made dinner a wonderful experience.  It usually is with Mommy's preparations.  She mashed a lot of potatoes and made a potato soup, adding chives to it as well.  We actually have been having some chives from our garden lately too!

Tonight we watched "Coat of Many Colors," partly because of a trip we're planning in a little bit, but also because it's part of our "uplifting movie series" we're doing during this fast.  It's a nice movie.  We watched that tonight, and Madison made a little time for piano, and some crochet too.  She's been making all kinds of unique things, experimenting and winding time on the couch listening to music as she creates.

Later on, it was time for bed, and prayers, and reading too.  We've been reading the devotional I wrote based on superheroes, and tonight's reading was about Drax, from Guardians of the Galaxy.  I think I'll leave today's entry with that parting thought.  It was funny, because we spotted on social media right afterwards an article about Drax being a fact checker for social media sites - it was somewhat ironic given the fact that we were just reading this one here.  Anyway, goodnight!  And try not to take too many things literally...

“But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:16 NIRV

     What is a metaphor? It’s turning a word into a symbol for something else. For example, you may have heard your teacher say, “This classroom is a zoo!” It’s not really a zoo of course, but your teacher is comparing all the noise and craziness of that classroom to a zoo. Another example: life is a roller coaster. It’s not literally a roller coaster, but life is certainly full of ups and downs.

     The Marvel hero named Drax the Destroyer doesn’t get metaphors at all. For example, if you went up to Drax and told him that somebody had a crush on him, he’d reply, “No one has a crush on me. I’m too strong to be crushed!”

     His friend Rocket Raccoon explained about Drax, “Metaphors go over his head.” To which Drax replied, “Nothing goes over my head! My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it!”

     Drax is in good company. In the New Testament, the apostles had to learn about metaphors too. Jesus spoke frequently in parables, which are stories that use metaphors, teaching an important lesson. In his parables, Jesus spoke about seeds, sheep, goats, trees, and faithful servants. And after hearing these stories, the Pharisees there were usually clueless. But those who really, really wanted to know what his parables meant – those people would come to understand, and walk away learning something useful and important.

     No matter what part of the galaxy you live in, the same can be said for you. It may take a bit of studying, and you may be like Drax with a lot to learn. But those who long to know more about Jesus and the remarkable parables he shared – the Bible says that those people will be blessed.