Round and round we go - reprise

"Excuse me, but you may not want to sit in the area near the windows. There is a tornado warning, and funnel clouds have been sighted in the area. There are chairs closer to the interior of the store."

After the roommate reunion Saturday afternoon, I decided to hang out at Borders, picking up a mystery and enjoying the presence of both air conditioning and a barrista. The only things waiting at home were heat and laundry, neither of which held any particular attraction. It had been ages since I'd taken the time to just sit and read through a novel. The rain pelted the glass windows and door of the cafe area, periodically slowing from torrent to simple downpour, providing a comforting backdrop to my cozy read.

Well, until the above announcement.

"And just so you are aware, the bathrooms are the approved tornado shelter."

Isn't that convenient?

Dutifully, I picked up my latte, book, bag and bottle of water and found a seat near the back, fairly close to the bathrooms should they be needed (for any reason). From this vantage point, I could no longer see outside, but I could certainly hear the rain on the roof.

About four long chapters' worth of reading later, I decided to mosey up closer to the front of the store. The rain was still coming down faster than I've ever seen it, but the skies were marginally lighter. A few hearty souls - including the barrista - were back in the cafe area. I settled back at a table, with a clear view to the outside. As soon as the rain let up, I'd make a dash for the car and get myself home.

The break didn't happen until nearly forty-five minutes later. The sky brightened noticeably, and the wind seemed to slow. There was no need to run to the car; the rain had stopped. In fact, it did not pick up again until I was safely home.

I've yet to check the television to find out exactly what has happened; I can hear the frequent wailing of the sirens of the fire and paramedic units housed in the next block, and know they are having a busy day. Law enforcement, fire fighters, utility workers, hospital and emergency personnel don't have the luxury of waiting out the storm in a secure area.

The radar shows the angry red patches of high winds still over our area, with another band crossing into western Wisconsin as well. Our area may see the southern tail of that band in the middle of the night. I don't anticipate having any trouble sleeping - no matter what happens, I know I'm in the hands of the One who controls the storms.

And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" And He said to them, "Why are you timid, you men of little faith?" Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"
Matt 8:23-27 (NASB)