storm

 
No, I didn’t actually drag a toddler to the beach during a tropical storm for a photo session, but this recent image seemed appropriate for the day. And this little girl was sort of like her own little storm anyway. I was dodging the flying debris more than I was photographing. A category five on two little legs, tropical storm Fay has nothing on her. I wondered at times if my camera and I would survive the wrath of this charismatic cyclone. We did, but as is the case with any impressive storm, we both required a serious cleaning up afterwards.

Storms are such awe-inspiring events that teach reverence and surrender like few other things can, aren‘t they? All the meticulously crafted plans in the world soon become meaningless should a storm decide to blow in our direction. We’re simply at her mercy when the furor of her demands become clear:

“Stop whatever it is that you’re doing. Pay close attention to the signals I send. Get off the frantic road you’ve been racing down and go home. Be with those you love. I will close your offices, shut down your schools, even suspend operations of your precious theme parks until you listen. Stop. Pay attention. Lovingly protect and console one another. Be mindful and grateful of what endures despite devastation.”

Interesting that the simple lessons appear to be the same whether we’re talking about an atmospheric happening or any of the personal storms that periodically enter our lives.

~Cynthia