“Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord…and after the earthquake a fire…and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.” — 1 Kings 19:11-12

This is not a devotion about Hurricane Sandy.

It’s about Hurricane Yours Truly. Hurricane Mitch.

In 1998, Hurricane Mitch swept across the Atlantic and killed more than 11,000 people. It was the most destructive hurricane in the Western Hemisphere in over 200 years. And I shared the same name with that beast! That was a long summer for me.

Having the same name as a hurricane makes you think, though. Makes you ask questions, like, “Are there other things I share in common with a hurricane? Are there ways in which I’m destructive?”

I think back through my life, and, yes, I’ve left some damage in my path. I have regrets about the ways I’ve mistreated people, walked over people, hurt people. Hurt myself.

What about you? Do you have any hurricane traits in you? When you lose your temper do you tend to mess with anyone that gets in your way? Are there times your actions or words do unnecessary damage?

Or maybe you have a hurricane raging inside yourself, doing deep damage to the hidden parts of you.

Most of us can think back to some hurricane times when we’ve hurt ourselves or others and literally spun out of control. Those times happen when we’re stressed, afraid, or backed into a corner. Remember, hurricanes form when pressure mounts!

When you get to feeling that way, remember that God is with you. God is there, in that quiet place inside you, like the eye of a hurricane, urging you to be still.

Human beings aren’t just forces of nature. We are called to be forces of grace. We are tied in to God, connected to God’s love. When human beings stick together and care for each other, we can spin grace out into the world, instead of destruction.

With God’s help, we can greatly reduce the number of human hurricanes that get produced.

And so, I hope that you will continue to pray for hurricane victims this week…

And if you know anyone named Sandy, give them a great big hug.

Have a great week,

Mitch

SANDY RELIEF:  100% of what you give goes to those in need: no administrative costs. Donate to United Methodist Committee On Relief, Advance #901670, and select Hurricanes 2012 from the drop-down menu. You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation.

You may recognize this devotion…it’s modified from one I wrote for a hurricane in 2005. So if you know any Katrina’s, give them a hug too! 🙂