A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to Jesus and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves…Luke 8:23-24

            I was speaking at Frazier United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama when the sirens went off. Chris and I had driven from Atlanta to Montgomery after watching the developing weather picture. Severe storms were heading our way, but there were no delays at the airport and it looked like they were projecting the worst of the storms to go north of us. So, we had driven to Montgomery where I was going to speak to over 250 pastors and lay leaders from across the country. I had just begun when the sirens went off.

            We moved to a hallway at the other end of this magnificent complex and, after the sirens ceased, I continued my presentation in a Children’s Ministry great room. Surrounded by “Finding Nemo” decals with crosses in them, I finished the first session and held the next one in the same area. That’s when we heard about the tornado just to the south. It has struck a High School in Enterprise, Alabama. We prayed for the students and teachers there. We prayed that God would be present and limit the destruction and loss of life. The initial reports were that as many as 18 had died. And suddenly our interruption and disruption seemed insignificant in comparison.

It was. We were safe – though a bit uncomfortable crammed into small chairs and a too small room. The sirens sounded many more times and Chris and I would need to shop for clothes at a local mall in order to have clean clothes to travel in after spending an unexpected night in Montgomery. But others had lost loved ones or had sons or daughters injured. Our inconvenience paled in comparison.

Later we learned that 8 had died, with many injured before the winds were calmed and the storms subsided. Now we pray that the Savior of the storm will embrace the families left in pain just as He hugged those students and teachers. I dare to believe that when those 8 died, in their last moments, the Savior was there to calm the storms in their hearts and welcome them into forever.

Lord Jesus Christ, many called out “Master, we are perishing!” last night and we trust that you heard and came to them. Now we pray for the broken hearted who have lost loved ones through the horrible storms that have passed our way. Be with them to comfort them. Do not let them stand alone in their grief. Amen