It’s very calm outside right now.
The light breeze and pleasantly warm weather make it seem this could be another day in Paradise.
But from what I hear, it won’t be.
We’ll see what the 7 a.m. update says, but as of 11 last night, Matthew was expected to be a Category 4 hurricane tonight as it skirts the east coast of Florida, which is about 30 miles from here.
And in light of that, I can’t help but think about what we discussed at church last night about the difference between asking God to keep us safe, and asking God to protect us.
Does God call us to be safe, or to be bold for Him? Should we hunker down, or keep our heads up and our eyes open for what He’s doing and for opportunities to serve Him?
Oh, we’ll stay inside when Matthew comes, and listen if we get an evacuation order. I’m not talking about being foolhardy.
But if I was a police officer or a firefighter, my work would be right here, even in the midst of the storm. And that’s our work as God’s people too. We’re not called to stay safe and run from the storms of life; we’re called to bring hope and life and light – and God’s love – to those darkest hours and those darkest places.
We need to prepare for that.
As calm as it is in the pre-dawn darkness as I write this, yesterday was a madhouse as people prepared. One gas station we went past last night on the way to church was out of gas; others had lines. People stripped staples from store shelves. Plywood suddenly became the season’s must-have accessory.
You see, the time to prepare for the storm is before it gets here.
I’m prepared. Are you?
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