Thursday, July 3, 2014; 4:05:
Monsoons in Southern Arizona are an interesting thing. Year after year growing up I have looked out my window and enjoyed the relief the monsoons gave from the summer heat and dusty wind. I noticed that there was a daily pattern to them:
The day starts off bright with clear skies; no clouds in sight. By noon, the first wispy clouds have shown up. By around three the skies turn dark with splotches of blue sky. By four there are distance rumblings of thunder and sometimes flashes of lightning. The wind picks up. By five it pours. Sometimes it lasts as few as five minutes, sometimes hours (either way, the same amount of water might fall in both instances). Within another couple hours the clouds disperse once again.
Of course, there is always some variance like when it rains for three straight days and the roads flood out or when the clouds decided not to come in at all.
I was watching the storm today, and realized how close it is to worldly temptation. It may be the best sun-shiny day until the storm comes. There is a lot of warning for the storm, but I find it is difficult to notice since it typically rolls in over head without any sound. Gradually the daylight gets blocked out and I begin to feel comfortable. Am I comfortable with the temptation when it comes?
All of a sudden, without warning, the wind blows. I have time to seek shelter, but I tend to stay out in the wind to feel the cool breeze. A distant, soft, rumbling warns of the coming storm. Then the rain appears in sheets. It rarely sends warning droplets. When the rain hits, it's too late! I get wet instantly. The rain combines with the wind and it all seems to raining sideways! I can barely see the house from the street! Before long there is an eruption of electricity in the air!
Sometimes it lasts a short time, sometimes temptation lasts for days on end. But it always clears in the end. The adversary might make the storm look inviting to start, but it will grab me in the end and drench me if I do not heed the constant, gentle, rumblings warnings of the Spirit to get out of the storm! Thankfully, The Lord offers the towel of repentance when I slip into the indulgence of a storm.
Monsoons in Southern Arizona are an interesting thing. Year after year growing up I have looked out my window and enjoyed the relief the monsoons gave from the summer heat and dusty wind. I noticed that there was a daily pattern to them:
The day starts off bright with clear skies; no clouds in sight. By noon, the first wispy clouds have shown up. By around three the skies turn dark with splotches of blue sky. By four there are distance rumblings of thunder and sometimes flashes of lightning. The wind picks up. By five it pours. Sometimes it lasts as few as five minutes, sometimes hours (either way, the same amount of water might fall in both instances). Within another couple hours the clouds disperse once again.
Of course, there is always some variance like when it rains for three straight days and the roads flood out or when the clouds decided not to come in at all.
I was watching the storm today, and realized how close it is to worldly temptation. It may be the best sun-shiny day until the storm comes. There is a lot of warning for the storm, but I find it is difficult to notice since it typically rolls in over head without any sound. Gradually the daylight gets blocked out and I begin to feel comfortable. Am I comfortable with the temptation when it comes?
All of a sudden, without warning, the wind blows. I have time to seek shelter, but I tend to stay out in the wind to feel the cool breeze. A distant, soft, rumbling warns of the coming storm. Then the rain appears in sheets. It rarely sends warning droplets. When the rain hits, it's too late! I get wet instantly. The rain combines with the wind and it all seems to raining sideways! I can barely see the house from the street! Before long there is an eruption of electricity in the air!
Sometimes it lasts a short time, sometimes temptation lasts for days on end. But it always clears in the end. The adversary might make the storm look inviting to start, but it will grab me in the end and drench me if I do not heed the constant, gentle, rumblings warnings of the Spirit to get out of the storm! Thankfully, The Lord offers the towel of repentance when I slip into the indulgence of a storm.
1 comment:
I was talking with my brother a while ago (who is much further along in his recovery than I am), and I was amazed at how sensitive he is to his own feelings. I believe part of the reasons we're successful in recovery is to have a clear feel for when we start to get off center--or, in other words, to be talented storm watchers that can tell what clouds mean trouble. Thanks for sharing.
R
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