SUZI: Storms on Your Road

Scott and I lived in Chicago for about 2 ½ years.  We traveled home to Missouri for most major holidays and a few of the minor ones too.  Many of our three day weekends were spent on the road.  While no one loves a good road trip more than we do, there was always something that took a bit of the joy out of it:  the weather.  It stormed or snowed every time we drove home.  Literally.  I know you think I’m exaggerating.  I wish I were.  I don’t know how it is possible, but every time we made that 7 hour trek to MO, the sky opened up and let out either torrential rains or blinding snow storms.  Plus we were always driving in the dark because we left after work.

I remember inching through snow storms on Hwy 55 in central Illinois, not even being able to see the lines on the road.  Cars were scattered in the ditches, and we kept plugging ahead.  I recall pulling to the side of the road as buckets of rain poured on us.  Or the time that the wind was so strong that debris was flying sideways against our car.

I don’t know if it was the landscape or the time or an evil plot from the universe, but we always had bad weather.

One summer day after we were already tired from a long day of commuting and work, we hit the road.  As we headed out of Chicago, we noticed the skies were turning awfully dark.  The clouds were somersaulting above us, and I wasn’t happy about it.  “Lord, I am so tired.  It would be so nice if for this one time we could have nice weather to go home.  I’m just so tired today,” I remember quietly praying.

A few minutes later I realized that there were storm clouds off in the distance to our left and to our right.  We could see the lightening and rain in the distance, but there was nothing falling on us.  Not a drop.  It was as if we were driving through the divided Red Sea; the clouds were literally divided right down the middle.  Moses was holding up his staff, and we were going through on dry ground!

I actually wouldn’t even believe it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.  Chance?  Maybe.  Grace in time of need?  More likely.  Because that’s the kind of God we serve.  He knows when we need a break, and His kindness to us ministers just when we need it! 

(And that’s the only time we ever had nice weather driving home!)