A year or so ago, I got hooked on storm chasers. I have been teased, “Maybe they'll catch something (a storm on camera or data or crab), maybe they won't?” Indicating that these shows have pretty much the same plot episode after episode, why bother? With the crab fishing, It's absolutely crazy, but I get why people do it. It's totally dangerous, it's miserable, backbreaking work, but the pay day is pretty sweet. For generational fishermen, growing up, it is the only career they know. The storm chasers are different. I have never understood the appeal. A lot of these guys have Ph D's in Meteorology, and can get comfy jobs in TV or radio or university settings, but they choose to bust their butts to try to get grants and raise money just to spend it on electronic data collection gizmo's. I suppose there is the possibility of a huge pay off, however that does not seem to be the driving force behind it. And there are tons of “non research” people who chase storms for the heck of it. Is this the only way in Oklahoma and Nebraska to get any sort of adrenaline rush? While that's probably true, I don't think that's it.
The other morning, I sat outside under the overcast sky. The clouds were moving, but on the ground, no sort of breeze. While it wasn't necessarily “hot”, it was not very comfortable. Just good ol' heavy Midwest humidity. Then, from a distant place in the heavens, came the gentle rumble of thunder, and with it the promise of relief from the stagnant warm air. Clouds began gaining momentum as they quickly traveled through the sky. The gentle rumbles became pops and cracks. The sound of wind through the trees began as a soft fluttering, then abruptly rose in tempo to mimic applause and crescendoed to the sound of fierce rolling waves.
The cool breeze hit my face, lifting away, not only the heavy heat, but anything that felt heavy inside and out. I took a long, deep breath and could taste the coming rain. I looked up, and the silver blanket of clouds was pulling behind it a large charcoal gray wall. It was as thick and as deep and as wide and as long as I could see. The mid-day that had appeared as twilight, quickly turned to dusk. Though I was surrounded by movement an sound, I felt as still as rock, yet as light as the dry leaves floating in the wind. I was very conscious of something Great.
I then began to catch a glimpse of understanding. Perhaps people don't just pull over and get out of their cars on country plains roads for a cheap thrill or cool weather show. Just maybe, it is one of the rare opportunities we take to truly “BE” in the Presence of Greatness.
We are easily distracted by the possible looming tornado inside from recognizing Greatness for Who it is. But Greatness is not restricted to extreme weather events. We may have had our breath taken way by an ocean view, a snow covered mountain or new baby, only to be quickly distracted by getting “a good spot” on the beach, how cold it is, or the weight of new responsibilities. We spend a brief moment in the divine, then get weighted back down by our humanity. Greatness is evident in each blade of grass, drop of dew or colony of ants, we just don't really care.
So, I will probably continue to watch the Danger hunters on TV, and settle for a facsimile of that which is Supernatural and Divine. But if you and I are having a conversation in the driveway one day and I zone out on an ant carrying a potato chip, please don't take it personally. I'm simply Experiencing Greatness.
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