To the storm that changed my life,

Coming into this year, I had a lot on my mind concerning the upcoming fall semester with balancing my RA position, 20 credits and playing collegiate volleyball. It was weighing heavily on my mind, but I didn't even know that it was so burdensome until I was caught in the middle of you virtually by myself a half mile from our camp on a backpacking trip. That day, we went on our "solos", where we sat by ourselves for six hours and meditated/prayed/sang/journaled/slept. Around four hours into our solo time, you swept into the area we were camping in for the night. You began with rain: a quiet rain, the kind most don't really concern themselves with. I had a tarp which allowed for me to be covered just fine. Then, about twenty minutes later, I saw your lightning strike out of the corner of my eye and felt you rolling into the area. It was at this opportune moment that your rain simultaneously poured harder and my tarp fell apart. Putting together a makeshift poncho with my tarp that covered all my belongings, I sat in fear as you raged on. I was afraid because the creek was rising at a scary rate; I was afraid that I'd get really sick or injured because of you; but mostly, I was afraid of the your immense power. Yet in the midst of the fierce wind, pouring rain, booming thunder and crackling lightning, I felt a calming presence wash over my soul. In the midst of what most people think is a nuisance or a terrifying force of nature, I was sitting there, soaked to the bone and calm as ever. I kept reciting Psalm 23 (the Shepherd's Psalm), and repeating verse four over and over: "Even though I walk / through the darkest valley, / I will fear no evil, / for you are with me; / your rod and your staff, / they comfort me" (NIV). The thunder was so loud, but all I heard was God speaking to me in these words.

Since then, it's become as simple and as complicated as this: If God is with me, what do I have to be afraid of? Why should I fear anything this earth could throw at me, if God knows my future? As humans, we struggle so much with fearing things that this earth can throw at us, but if our goal is not an earthly one — if our focus is above — we have nothing to fear on this earth. You really put things into perspective for me. If I thought you were powerful, then I truly cannot fathom God's power.

So, storm, thank you for your thunder, lightning, wind, and rain. Your fierceness and immense power drove me closer to the One who created you, and I will always be thankful for you.

Sincerely,

The backpacker you changed forever