(Photo Credit: Brandon Morgan, Unsplash)
Living in the lightning capital of the world has its advantages. You get to experience first hand the fury, or better yet, the beauty of the heavens.
Late afternoon yesterday was such a day for me. I had heard thunder’s distant rumble in my office, checked my hand-dandy android’s storm tracker, and decided it was time to go home. I got there just in time before the heavens opened and roared. It was intense!
At one moment it seemed like lightning had come into my living room. The lights flickered, the dogs shook, and I jumped. And although my 60 inch television set was off it got fried nonetheless. Bummer! (and all before Monday Night Football too)
I found out later that a lightning bolt had struck a big tree in the yard next door. (below)
Notice charcoaled middle limb. The broken limb was actually split in two by the electrical jolt.
God’s power is literally out of this world!
Keep in mind that Benjamin Franklin did not invent electricity. God master minded it so others could discover it.
Lightning is one of those not so subtle little reminders of God.
I remember one July 4th celebration. Our family was at the beach along with many others enjoying a powerful display of fireworks. They were being shot a few feet away from us and exploding right over our heads. It was exhilarating. When the fireworks store owner was done with his show the crowd roared.
The clouds had been building in the Gulf of Mexico and most people had already left the beach when thunder rolled from above. The sound was deep and loud and the walls of the beachfront condo we were staying at shook. It was as if the Lord was saying, “It’s my turn now.” God then proceeded to create a brilliant lightning display over the water and it was beyond description.
What does this have to do with giving your day a powerful jolt? Everything!
If you’re like me, sometimes days just drag along slowly. We have become so immerse in the mundane of daily routine that it is easy to miss the wonder happening around us.
My wife and I were stopped at a red light the other day. There was a young man coming out of an establishment wanting me to let him in. I waved at him to go in front of me and he started to point at something happening above and just beyond our car. There were several couples of parrots sitting on the power lines chirping.
It was a stunning sight. I looked back at him and he was still pointing with a great big smile. I nodded, smiled back, and gave him the thumbs up.
Had it not been for that young man paying attention to his surroundings we would have missed the great sight.
All I’m saying is that, like those, there are moments throughout your day capable of giving your hum-drum existence a jolt: it may be nature oriented (like that thunder bolt, or those parrots, or something unique a squirrel is doing), or a friend’s text that makes you smile, or an image in the web, or something silly that happens at the office.
Pay attention. Look around. Take life in.
Life is too short to miss out on the good stuff and God will use it all to refresh you when you need it most.
Please feel free to share with me a unique moment that gave your life a jolt.
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God’s awesomeness is all around us. We just need to be watching for Him!
If we could only do that, Judy.
Thanks, Jorge, this is a good reminder. We can get so absorbed with our day, that we miss seeing the marvels of God’s creation all around us. I remember quite a few years ago, I was staying with a friend who lived in a small lodge at the base of Mount Hood, in Oregon.
One night we took a drive up one of the many mountain roads and pulled off to the side. Shutting the headlights off, it was completely dark, no other man-made lights were visible. Looking up at the night sky, the Milky Way galaxy was in full view. The splendor and magnificence of it was overwhelming and humbling at the same time. It is a sight I will never forget! And our galaxy is just one of I don’t know how many that God put into existence with but a few words!
More recently, I had a wonderful ‘jolt’ when my lovely wife met me in the lobby of the post office where I work, just to say hi. It was exactly what I needed that morning! Talk about brightening up my whole day!
Great Stuff, Jim! The milky way must have looked amazing and, our loved ones and friends can give such a jolt.
Wow I really know that feeling. Bob an I both saw lots of Parrots at Public’s Store, we were so amazed looking at Gods great creation, absolutely awesome.