Waiting Out the Storm

I’m sitting here, waiting out the storm. Outside blows an early “Nor’ Easter”, with winds whipping the trees, and rain pelting the roof. Yet, as the sun comes up, I am snug. The dogs lie quietly at my feet, and no one is stirring as yet. My tea warms me inside as well as the heat in the house outside.

Life is very often filled with difficulties and troubles. A friend, neighbor, even our spouse hurts us, uses us, betrays us. We are injured, a family member sick, we lose our house, our job, a child. It’s all there, the storms of life. And if we allow ourselves, we all get wet. No one is immune to the water if, and this is a big one, if we go out in the storm!

I am not talking about the “Prayer of Jabez” movement which says prosperity and health are only yours if you pray for it. If that were true, then Christ’s death on the Cross was absolutely unnecessary. If we could pray away troubles, then why did Christ not pray away the Cross? Yes, he went willingly, but if he wanted us to have a trouble free life, wouldn’t he have repeated it over and over, “Pray and your troubles will cease, as mine will cease?”

Christ came to suffer the Cross but He went to the Cross having suffered through the storm. Do you think His troubles started at the Cross? He was almost stoned several times, and he was chased out of places, and even His own followers ridiculed Him. I can’t think of a more compelling reason to suffer. Because my lord suffered. “Where do you go, My Lord?” “Back to Rome to be Crucified, again.” The famous words of ‘Quo Vadis’.

The thing is, Paul didn’t stay in the storm. Christ didn’t stay in the storm. They trusted in the Providence of God and moved through the storm to the other side, home.

As I sit here, I think of all the storms in my life, abuse as a child, the ceaseless moving of my childhood, my own anger that I had to learn to put aside for a better life, abusive ex-husband, mis-treatment by others, accusations, problems, like you all, I have had them too.

St. Mother Theodore Guérin, whose feast day is today said this to the women in her care in Indiana: “Have confidence in the Providence that so far has never failed us. The way is not yet clear. Grope along slowly. Do not press matters; be patient, be trustful.” Another time, she asked, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?”

Have confidence in the Providence that has never failed. Focus on the home, not the wind outside and go boldly through the storm.