I’ve always been amazed at how readily animals seem to handle extreme weather.  Granted there are animal casualties as a result of weather, but by and large wildlife seems to weather storms very well.  I’ve always wondered how birds, for example, manage to hang on during storms like the one we had this past weekend.  When the wind is blowing and the branches are whipping, one would think the birds wouldn’t have a chance.  But, we know from experience that they often fare quite well.  Biologists tell us they can hunker down on the lee side of a tree, or find a dense bush to hide in, and in so doing eliminate most of the danger from the wind.  Regardless of how they do it, it is always wonderful after a storm has passed to hear the birds offer their songs once more, reminding all of us of the gift found in the calm of another day.

I think this phenomenon was on the mind of songwriter Bob Franke when he wrote the hymn I learned at national youth events in my teen years:  The Great Storm is Over.  I wasn’t able to find a version of the song on the internet like the way we sang it at EYE (Episcopal Youth Event; 1500 teenagers led by a rock band and 200 strong choir), but the song has always stuck with me.  The chorus goes:

Alleluia, the great storm is over,

Lift up your wings and fly!

Alleluia, the great storm is over,

Lift up your wings and fly!

It’s a song that has a big picture view of the unfolding work of God for justice, peace, hope for the poor – the sentiment of Jesus’ reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the temple.  It also has a connotation of the personal storms of life with images of a scared child and its comforting mother. (I’ll post the full lyrics at the bottom as our prayer for today.)  Just like birds after a great storm, we are also able to, not just survive turmoil, but thrive afterward.  This reminder of God’s ultimate intentions is the source of our alleluias.  It reminds us that the darkness and death of this world is not the final outcome.  There will always be a new day, and eventually the final new day when God’s purposes are finally complete.

Even without storms like Hermine, which actually brought darkness and clouds, the world around us can seem to be a dark and stormy place.  If one were to listen only to newscasters and pundits, it would seem there is virtually nothing good in this world.  But then we have episodes as we did this weekend, which test a community.  In the testing we learn that we can, when we choose, function as a community of neighbors who put the common good above our petty personal concerns.  I was heartened when I read the outpouring of assistance after Hermine’s windy assault.

Those with chainsaws and trucks offered to help open driveways.  Elderly people found their younger neighbors ready to pitch in and clean up.  People with electricity offered air conditioning and freezer space to those without power.  I even heard from someone who was included in the multi-agency disaster planning meetings before the storm; all of the typical partisan bickering between various factions that often accompanies local politics was laid aside as everyone worked together to make arrangements for the response during and after the storm.   All of these are additional reasons for us to make our songs of joy after the passing of the storm.  Our community was tested, so to speak, and largely passed with flying colors.

Just to be clear, the storm wasn’t sent by God to test us; we can, nonetheless, learn things from the experience, because we can find God in such times.  Presence does not mean causation.  I hope that as we weather other storms in life and in our culture (none of which are sent by God as tests, either) we can find ourselves jumping up on the other side of them to help our neighbors near and far and to accept help from others.  I pray that we see justice and peace on the rise and work to that effect.  Whatever the storm, and however long its duration, there will come a day we can celebrate when it is over.  That will be the moment to spread our wings and fly once more.

Tom+

The Great Storm is Over

The thunder and lightning gave voice to the night,

The little lame child cried aloud in her fright,

Hush little baby, a story I'll tell,

Of a love that has conquered the powers of hell.

CHORUS:

Alleluia, the great storm is over,

Lift up your wings and fly!

Alleluia, the great storm is over,

Lift up your wings and fly!

Sweetness in the air and justice on the wind

Laughter in the house where the mourners have been

The deaf shall have music, the blind have new eyes

The standards of death taken down by surprise.

Release for the captives, an end to the wars

New streams in the desert, new hope for the poor,

The little lame children will dance as they sing,

And play with the bears and the lions in spring.

Hush little baby, let go of your fear,

The lord loves his own and your mother is here,

The child fell asleep as the lantern did burn,

The mother sang on 'til her bridegroom's return.

~Bob Franke