Photo by Jenny Venturo
“There’s a storm coming, just so you know.” - lady we should have listened to
“Guys!” I looked around at everyone with a big smile. “Isn’t this great!”
Everyone agreed. It was great. Great to be out together on the clear, glassy waters of Lake Superior. Great to swim and search for pretty stones and relax for a little while after a long day of work back at the trailer. Great to be laughing and talking together as we paddled back to clean up and have some dinner.
I looked around at my family, the seven of us divided between four stand-up paddleboards - which we sit on - and I was thankful. I took in the beauty of the lake, extending indefinitely to my left and reflecting the sky like a mirror. I admired the small cliffs of red rock to my right. I noticed briefly the long, thin cloud that extended, like a blade, across the sky behind us. It looked like it was darkening a bit. We’ll probably get some rain or some rumbles of thunder, I thought. If we move quickly we will be fine. I thanked God for His lovingkindness as I dipped my oar into the water and propelled us forward.
And then . . . SLAM.
We have been through hurricanes. We have endured blizzards. We have watched floodwaters rise close to our doorstep. We have driven through hail. We have been caught in the wilderness in thunderstorms and have had to cower under rocks and sprint through fields to escape. But never in my life have I seen the weather change so suddenly - so fiercely. In a single moment, our idyllic afternoon turned into a fight to survive.
Wind shrieked out of nowhere and tore the glassy lake into a wild frenzy. Frothy waves hurled us forward. There was no time to talk, no chance to look out for each other. There were only the waves and our paddles. I dug into the water over and over again as hard and as fast as I could. Caleb, seated in front of me, did the same. His face was set with fearsome determination. But it was of little use. We were almost powerless against the surging waves.
We cleared an outcropping of sharp rocks, but just barely. I was kneeling on the board, rowing for all I was worth and trying to get my fear under control just as the waves almost flung Caleb overboard. Whether from exhaustion, or terror, or both, I began to shake uncontrollably. My muscles felt like noodles. I realized that we had to make a decision. If we continued this way, it was probable that we would drown. If we allowed the waves to carry us to the rocks, we could be smashed to pieces. I decided to take our chances with the land.
The churning water sped us toward the rocky cliffs. We all did our best to aim at a less perilous spot to land. Caleb and I jumped out as soon as we hit the first boulders that were piled at the bottom of the crumbling cliff that was roughly fifteen feet high. We struggled to hoist the board up out of the water as Joe, alone on his board, rammed into the same spot. We balanced on the slippery rocks, dripping and shivering and shouting to each other above the wind.
“Stay right here!” I yelled to Joe and Caleb hoarsely . . . as if they could go anywhere.
I began climbing along the boulders, looking for everyone else. Daniel was making his way toward me. He directed me through a large notch to where Kelly was holding their board against the wind. They were both safe. As I peered down the shoreline I saw Paul and Joshua standing on a large, smooth rock at the base of the cliff. There was no way to get to them because of a large portion of the cliff that jutted out in front of me into the water.
I noticed a steep wooden staircase going up the cliff near me. I motioned to Paul and Joshua to stay put. From what I could see, they were stuck, and I knew they would try to climb straight up the cliff to get to us. This thought terrified me. I knew I needed to hurry and I knew it was up to me to find help.
Still shaking, I crawled up the steep steps to a mown yard and a cabin. I waved my arms and shouted but it was obvious that no one was home. To my left, in the direction of Paul and Joshua, was dense forest. I didn’t think I could get through it, so I started down the cabin’s long driveway in search of someone who could help us. My effort to hurry, coupled with my reflexive “Ouch!” as I hopped through the sharp gravel with bare feet and my frantic swatting of a gang of horse flies, probably looked like some kind of strange dance. Then I heard a large rustle in the woods. I hoped it was a deer . . .
After a while the futility of my endeavor became obvious. There was no one around for miles. It was not safe for me to be here alone. I turned around and hobbled back to the cliffs. When I arrived I had a plan and I began to shout orders to Joe, Kelly, Daniel, and Caleb.
Shortly after this Paul and Joshua appeared at the top of the cliff. They had scaled the cliff and beaten their way through the brush to get to us. I found out later that Paul had fallen backwards on his way up and caught himself just in time on a small tree. But they were OK and now we were together, which felt a lot better!
We decided to work together to get the paddleboards up the cliff. We lined up in a row facing the water, anchoring our feet amongst the rocks. Lifting the first board, we passed it down to the end of our line. Then those of us who were first climbed carefully around those who were holding the board. They in turn passed it to us and crawled around to the front to receive the board again. In this way we relayed the board over the boulders that were being slammed by waves, through the precarious notch, over more boulders, and finally up the steep steps. Then back to perform the whole process again. All the while the wind howled and the water heaved.
After a long time we were all up in the grass with three of the boards. By this time we were not only wet, but muddy, scratched, and bitten. So it didn’t matter too much that we had to battle through fifty yards of brush and trees to get above the board that Paul and Joshua had left. We broke off as many branches as we could as we went to make a path for the board on the way back. When we arrived at the part of the cliff that was above the paddle board, we found a better way down and made a line. It was fairly easy, working together, to get this board up over the cliff and back through the forest.
I started to breathe easier knowing we were all in a safe place. We each hoisted up an end of a board and began the long walk down the cabin’s driveway and down the dirt road until we finally found the parking lot where our van was waiting. As we walked past the cabin on our way, we noticed a security camera facing us. We laughed to think of the entertaining footage the owners would have and hoped they wouldn’t be upset about our trespassing . . .
We found out later that the phenomenon we experienced was a “gust front”, which basically means a large, continuous wall of wind. It is usually part of a storm system, but can be from a storm that is quite far away. I guess we should have expected it, but we didn’t know what the long, blade-like cloud meant. And we didn’t heed the warning from the lady we saw when we were heading out on the water because we thought we were fine. We didn’t see evidence of a storm, and we thought if one came up we would have time to get back.
We should have listened to and believed the warning. We should have considered the odd cloud. We should have been prepared and ready.
What about you?
Are you prepared?
Are you ready?
Being prepared for a change in the weather can save your life. Listening to forecast warnings can be the difference between tragedy and inconvenience. But I am talking about something much more serious and important. It is not a fickle forecast or a just-in-case precaution. It is something definite. It is going to happen.
Jesus is coming again. The first time He came, it was as a helpless infant. Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us”, came to live among us. He came to suffer and die on the cross. He came to conquer death when He rose from the tomb. He ascended into heaven but He promised that He is coming a second time. Just like the storm we experienced, it will be sudden. But this time it will be in power and glory. He will come in vengeance and judgment (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; 2 Timothy 1:10; John 14:1-6; Matthew 24; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 1 Peter 3; Revelation 19:11-16).
Are you ready for that day? Are you heeding the warnings of His Word? Do you think you will be “okay” when you stand before a perfect, holy God? Do you think He will overlook your sin? Do you think God will be impressed with your works or your money or your sincerity? Or are you trusting in Jesus Christ alone, Who took the punishment you deserve - Who took your sin on Himself - Who died in your place - so that you can have eternal life and escape the damnation of hell? (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 5:11-12).
Dear Christian, are you looking forward to that day? Are you living like it is a reality? Are you sharing the Good News of the cross with those around you, so that they can have the same hope and peace that you enjoy? Or are you distracted by sickness and sorrow, by problems and politics, by chasing after things that will soon disappear? Look up! Look past those things! Your redemption is soon! You can expect it! (Matthew 24; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 21:25-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Revelation 22:20).
