ISLAND IMPRESSIONS BY FR. TOM PURDY, RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH
Weathering the Storms
I love a good thunderstorm. While my German Shepherd will disagree with me on every point, I love the rumble of thunder, from the sharp peals following close strikes to the low growl that crawls across the landscape over long distances. I find lightning beautiful; the thick bolts that seem to pierce the earth and the sinewy strands that trace along the clouds. On the 4th of July, all the local fireworks displays were upstaged by a gathering storm that offered an incredible light show on a different scale. Storms are a part of living here. Thunderstorms also elicit prayers. I prefer to imagine that lightning strikes are benign, striking out in the marsh or on objects that are designed to absorb and dissipate their energy. I know that isn’t always the case. I also know that the heavy rain and wind that accompanies such storms can also be deadly. We’ve had local fatalities this year as a result of storms, and I have lost friends to storms in the past. Perhaps a fear of storms is a part of the attraction, like riding a roller coaster or any of the myriad
80
ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
