Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Rain (09/07/04)
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TITLE: Rain or Shine, Our God Reigns By Glenda Lagerstedt 09/12/04 |
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Heather felt like her heart would pound right through her chest but she did her best to calm the panicked children. Though her voice shook, her words were reassuring as three preadolescent girls threw themselves at her. “We’ll be okay!” she soothed. “Don’t worry, we will be okay!”
Two hours earlier the sun had been shining as Heather set out with her nieces to climb to the summit of Heroes Bluff. “Weather changes quickly at this altitude. Best be prepared,” warned the old timer at the campground registration center. Heather had thanked him for his advice and despite grumbling from the youthful troops, sturdy boots were donned, and backpacks carried sweaters as well as “dorky” rain gear.
The climb had gone well for the first hour. Then dense fog rolled in and cold drizzle began. Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance as Heather worriedly consulted the map. “There is a cabin just up the trail,” she said. “Lets go.”
Some ten minutes later they’d discovered that “cabin” was not the word for the decrepit three sided formation of wood and rusted metal they had hoped would protect them from the now driving rain. Thunder boomed, and the wind was chilling. No one was complaining about sweaters and rain gear as they huddled miserably, chomping on trail mix and fruit.
“Look, a little river,” shouted Becky suddenly, pointing to where the trail had been. Sure enough, it was a river. She tossed a twig into the rushing stream and watched it quickly disappear. Jane and Susan looked at Heather. “I’m scared, Aunt Heather,” whimpered Susan fearfully. “Don’t be such a baby, Susie,” muttered Jane, pushing her dark hair off her face. “It’s just a little rain, you know.”
Heather decided to keep her observation that this was much more than a “little rain” to herself. “Okay, Janie, how about if you tell us some of your awesome riddles,” she invited, to relieve the tensions. “You are so good at that. And, Becky, please stay away from the water. Remember, we need to keep our bodies safe, right?” Becky nodded and settled into a corner as Jane wrinkled her forehead in concentration.
It was at that moment that the boulder had catapulted down the mountain and crashed, creating pandemonium. Now as Heather held the children close, she prayed for safety and guidance. All three girls were sobbing in terror.
“Are we going to die?”
“I want Mom! Mommy, Mommy!”
“Dear God, please! Don’t let us die!”
“No,” said Heather firmly, calmer now after her prayer. “We are not going to die.” But the girls remained inconsolable. “Hey, gang, listen up,” she attempted. “Remember the song we sang in church last week?” And she began to sing.
“The sun is always shining.
It shines above on a stormy day.
Even in the darkest nighttime,
It’s the world that’s turned away.
Keep your praises climbing.
You’ll find light above the storm.
Don’t curse the night, it’s in God’s timing,
Trust, endure until the morn.”
Soothed by the reassuring words of the familiar song, the girls slowly joined in. Gradually the storm subsided. The sun began to peek through. Suddenly Jane gasped and pointed. “A rainbow!” she exclaimed. “Look!”
“Just like for Noah!” clapped Susan gleefully. Then they heard a shout and two men emerged from the trees below. “Daddy! Daddy!” Three little girls slipped and slid down hill into their father’s arms. Tears clouded Heather’s vision as she entered her own dad’s embrace. “Dad! Uncle Ross! Are we ever glad …” Tears came faster and she paused.
“It’s okay, we were praying for you the whole time.” He held her closely. “We knew you were safe. Because don’t we know that even when it rains, our God reigns?” he quipped. Heather began to giggle through her tears. The others joined in, giddy with relief.
Then the soggy little group began to pick its way joyfully down the mountain.