over the rainbow

Yesterday held some pretty amazing surprises. What started out as a normal, semi-boring day at work turned into a masterpiece of God's handywork. It all started when my coworkers and I looked out over the rainbow.

Thunderstorms are no surprise in Kansas City. It began raining in the late afternoon & we didn't expect it to rain for long--boy were we wrong. Around 7 pm we were placed under a tornado warning, so security came to our office to watch the storm from a better vantage point. At about 8, the rain let up. We walked to the back door of the store to see the KC skyline only to find a rainbow...& its twin. The beauty of the rainbow was amazing, but our gaze was drawn over the rainbow--dark stormclouds loomed over downtown & we knew the worst was yet to come.

My two coworkers, the two security staff, & I were watching the storm when we saw a newer, darker cloud out on the horizon. This was no rain cloud; it was a giant plume of smoke rising above the treeline. We all ran to the tv in the back office to find out what was going on. A petrollium tank had been struck by lightning. 2.6 million gallons of gas had caught flame. Throughout the rest of the night we watched the thickening cloud of smoke. Just above the treeline we could see eruptions of flame--it was awesome!

Thankfully, there were no tornados spotted in our area last night & all of our guests made it safely to their rooms. My supervisor & I continued to watch the petrollium fire & the amazing lightning show outside. I don't think I have ever had a more exciting time at work: a double rainbow, amazing storms, & a gas fire...what a night!

The wonder & beauty of last night was still in my head as I read Psalm 46 this morning. I am continually amazed when I see my life & God's Word linked together--it is an amazing miracle to me. The first three verses of Psalm 46 caught my attention & reminded me of the God over the rainbow & behind the power of the fire & lightning: God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar & be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. For some of our guests, last night was frightening. One lady in particular came up to our office 3 times & called & talked to our manager for over an hour. In all the amazing wonder of last night, we had no need to fear. Psalm 46 reminded me that I have no need to fear fire or storm because my God is my protection & strength.

Dorothy may have found the magical land of Oz over the rainbow, but I have found a better treasure: the amazing, all-powerful God, the controller of the universe.