I - It Can't Break The Spirit

It tears a path of chaos, destruction, and death. Its face hides amongst billows of gray, like a coward, but Its roar holds no cowardice within. Its voice thunders as a locomotive, shaking the heavens, and hearts of man. Its fury knows no bounds. It circles within the billows, growing in might, awaiting the time to strike. Its deadly tail grows and churns, begging to be unleashed. Longing to strike all within Its path.

 The time has come. Its voice screams. The gray billows roil. The foul dragon’s tail is unleashed. It dips and spins, growing longer with each breath. Its howl chases the earth, Its tail - massive - lashing all within Its path. No earthly force can stand against It. Great trees are shredded as kindling. Bricks meant to stand against time, are powerless against It. It bears offspring as deadly as Itself, sending them in Its greed for lives, to search out  even more vulnerable souls who cower upon the ravaged earth, or hide within shelters of deceptive frailty.

Its life is short, and It carries within Its heart the unquenchable taste of death, and destruction. It is no respecter of man, woman, or child, or animal. It cares not as to poverty or prosperity. It has no mind for good, but thirsts for evil. It can not be controlled, nor tamed by mere mortals. It answers to no one. Its shrill, cruel laugh can be heard as Its power weakens, and the billowing clouds travel their course. As Its lashing tail begins to roll back upon Itself, ascending unwillingly, into the billowing gray mass, as the earth heaves a tentative sigh of relief, Its voice grows more distant.

Though Its life is short, Its power is great. It has done as It intended. Yet, has failed in the bigger plan. For within Its wake, lay death and destruction. What was, is no longer. Rubble, has replaced homes, grief has grasped the human heart. But, It was powerless against the spirit of man. Through the rubble, in spite of great loss, in the midst of grief, man’s spirit lives on. Man will survive, they will grow, they will love and they will live - to see It again. They will reach out to others, they will not give up, or give in. And they will continue to look to the One, who promised to be with them always. Even in the midst of It.  God  will be with them as they heal. He will never leave them or forsake them, and great miracles shall each day overshadow Its fury.

May we take time to remember all those who lost so much due to the tornadoes.