“Storm, meet Jesus”
The faraway reporter in the eye of the storm
September 2009
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taken from Google Images
The T.V screen pops up with the reporter in coarse, forceful voice – “nature strikes back!” Bagyong Ondoy (Ketsana) ravaged Manila like hellfire. Families hold hands as they were caught in video to be grasping for life. Some barely make it alive. Weather analysts reveal scientific explanations that climate change – speaking of the furious storm – happened as if a red button was pushed in the heavens, then suddenly – total wreckage. T.V personalities and politicians did a pause from their self-aggrandizement for a while to reach out for their folks. In fact, one famous comedian got his jokes being swept away with floodwaters and into introspection: “the storm and the flood did not choose its victims. You cannot say that if you are rich and highly esteemed then the raging flood waters will just pass by your beautiful house and say that ‘I will not harm you because you are respected, and you your house is very big and beautiful…” He ends up saying that there is no rich or poor, no star or common “tao” in the catastrophic pursuit of survival. Billions of assets were lost; dead bodies were swimming with those barely breathing. Everyone was quaked from bottom-top, from the inside out, from the soul to our selves. PAG-ASA, the weather bureau, reported that this storm would just be the beginning of many others. Days, or maybe just hours from now – another storm will come (Welcome, Pepeng). Bagyong Ondoy may have been so strong (much ravaging, they say, than the hurricane Katrina that wreaked havoc on New Orleans), but they say to never lose heart and stay still, rescue will come – and Filipinos will always lend a hand. PAG-ASA, in fact, means “hope”.
Seemed another button was pushed during these days as the storm tilts us: people turn to God and pray. Church last Sunday talked about the same issue and ended up seeing the thing as a light to the grotesque event – giving the country an undoubtedly sense of need for God.
Google Images
One famous noontime show started their program with a prayer, instead of dancing beautiful women in their colorful costumes. One talk show host had to confess that God was calling the people to turn back to Him. A favorite song comes to mind in sweet rhythm: “when the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with You above the storm. Father, You are King over the flood… and I will be still know You are God.” It may be true that nature strikes back, or like that alien-oracle Keanu Reeves in the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” reminding us that since man was killing the earth – it will strike back to replenish itself. Behind all of these though, is the orchestrating hand of God. Insurance companies term the happening as “Acts of God” – causing the maelstrom of events, and making it hard for them to assuage the wrecks. If the storm were indeed an act of God, it would be refreshing to believe that He, being bigger than any storm, will be the One who can act out its solution. And we, for the most part, are His hands and feet.
We may end up furious against the raging storm, and Jesus will wake us up into the reality that He has power over it. Mark 4 recounts the events of Jesus – giving orders to the strong winds with an exclamation point: “Quiet! Be Still!” Only until then can we ask from within ourselves the question that His disciples asked in verse 41 – “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him?”
He is God. He is God! And to quote from Robert Morgan – “The same God who led you in, will lead you out.” When the storm meets Jesus, we know who is boss.
Be still Philippines. We have pag-asa in a God who can quiet the raging storm.
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