The Lightning Strike

We experienced a crazy thunderstorm by Northern Ireland standards last night. There were reports of torrential rain, mud slides and extensive flooding across the country. It hit our village at around 11:00 pm, starting with heavy rain. A little while later the thunder and lightning arrived, lighting up the night sky like a fireworks display and setting off every dog and car alarm in the vicinity.

At one point two lightning bolts struck simultaneously in fields either side of our house. Pandemonium reigned. The girls were in tears, Charlie the border terrier was going berserk and Adam was running around gleefully singing the ‘Thunderbuddies’ song from ‘Ted’. Fionnuala managed to capture the entire episode on her phone before posting it on Facebook. It went viral! Well she had over 200 views which is more a slight head cold than a virus but still good right?

Eventually the storm passed and order was restored. The girls settled down and everyone went back to their respective beds. I had never been as close to a lightning strike and was amazed by the power of its impact on the surrounding area. The force, the light and the accompanying noise. It was a spectacle I will never forget. I also thought to myself that I couldn’t wait until the following morning to blog about it.

I have been humbled and encouraged by the growth of this blog and the positive feedback we have received regarding it. I thank God every day for giving me the inspiration and motivation to write. And I hope that somewhere it is making a difference in the lives of people. Whenever I used to write online I did so for attention. It was all about how clever I was. When the lightning bolt struck I wanted it to illuminate Stephen. I wanted the world to acknowledge me for the great person I was.

I still want lightning to strike now when I write but for different reasons. I want it to leave a lasting impression in the lives of others. I want it to turn their darkness into light and show them the way out of whatever hole they have fallen into. I want it to open their eyes and ears to hope and a future free from whatever demons have crept into their hearts. And I want to reveal the truth and allow them to see beyond the lies of this world. To reveal how precious and unique they are.

You may be trapped in a storm in your life right now. You may see no way out. You may be terrified by the lightning and soaked to the bone. You may be on the point of giving up. But storms pass. They do not last forever. And one day you will wake up and it will be over. The air will be crisp and clean. The sun will be shining and your world will be different. Changed. The storm will have changed you. You will be stronger and wiser. For in the heart of every storm there is light. And where there is light there is truth. And hope. 

John 8:12 – ‘When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

Please feel free to share your thoughts about this post.

What is the nearest you have ever been to a lightning strike?

Have you ever found light in the midst of a storm?