“A storm is any disturbed state of an environment or in an astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface.”
In our lives we always refer to rough times as storms. When things disturb our atmosphere the results can be minimal or catastrophic. In looking at storms it is important to know the different types of storms and how they affect our lives.
The first type of storm is a tornado.
The weather definition of a tornado is that it is a violent, destructive windstorm occurring on land. Usually its appearance is that of a dark, funnel-shaped cloud. Unpredictable, it can change it’s path at the last minute. When something sudden, powerful, and chaotic enters our lives we are quick to refer to it as a tornado.
These tornadoes come in and turn our lives upside down within a short amount of time. We may have a warning but there is barely time to prepare for the force that has no predictability. Sudden illness, the betrayal of a loved one, unseen violence, these things do not have a clearly marked path and can strike at any time. While these things can be devastating the tornado is never long lasting. As fast as it comes, it goes and we are left to pick up the remains.
The next storm is a thunderstorm.
A thunderstorm is a type of storm that generates lightning and the attendant thunder. It is normally accompanied by heavy precipitation. Darkening skies and changes in temperature may occur.
A Thunderstorm announces its arrival. You can feel the change in the wind, see the dark clouds approaching, and hear the thunder roll. There is nothing you can do to change a thunderstorm. You may be able to predict the location but all other components are not as easily tangible. The danger in a thunderstorm lies in the combination of the elements of the atmosphere. Rain in itself is not damaging but add in wind, temperature clashing, and electric particles being charged, and a thunderstorm becomes terrifying because of the sum of its parts.
In our lives, sometimes we see trouble coming, or heartache announces its arrival but there is nothing we can do about the happenings. The combination of our troubles may cause a loud distraction that can only be rivaled by the deepest thunder roll. The fight between positive and negative energy may produce sparks that can only be matched by the brightest of lightning strikes. Thunderstorms are large, looming forces that last longer than tornadoes but are dangerous only when all elements are present.
The last storm is a Hurricane.
The hurricane is the most powerful type of tropical cyclone, and is identified by low pressure systems, high winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges and swells.
Hurricanes that reach land can be extremely destructive damaging property and affecting infrastructure.
Hurricanes that have gathered enough strength can crumble the strongest of foundations and cause devastation to long standing institutions. Hurricanes are an example of everything working in perfect harmony for one purpose and that purpose is to effect everything that it touches. When hurricanes occur in our lives we can feel lost, helpless, and angry because we are not in control of our atmosphere. Hurricanes have wide reaching power so even if not directly impacted, the arms of a hurricane can stretch wide enough to still cause disintegration miles away. Life’s hurricanes come with a force that knocks us off of our feet and causes us to re-evaluate our surroundings and foundations.
When the storms of life occur, our human instinct is to automatically assume that destruction is taking place. The truth is that the storm may destroy the surface, but the essence remains the same. The spirit is the same, but the outer adornments have been stripped away. Sometimes storms come to redirect out attention, to strip away the old so that new life can be formed.
Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. If the sun shone all the time we would take the warmth and light of the sun for granted. We need the rain to nurture us and grow. Embrace the storms because new life is always ready to burst forth from change.