dual personalities

Well, as you’ve no doubt heard, we had quite a storm on Friday night in our neck of the woods. We were watching the Alistair Sim A Christmas Carol (1951) when the tornado sirens went off. We quickly paused our movie and tuned in to the local news where the weather dudes were very excited. We listened attentively and when they said seek shelter in your basement, we did so. We have learned through the years not to mess around. Eventually we came back upstairs and finished our movie, but we did have quite a windy night and there was a lot of detritus in our yard in the morning. Also, daughter # 1’s car was damaged in our driveway.

However, the real damage occurred across the river in Illinois…

…and, of course, in Kentucky.

Very scary indeed. In the Midwest, we never underestimate the wrath and power of nature.

On a happier note, the wee twins came over on Saturday afternoon so we could give them their birthday present, which was a joint present from daughters #1 and #2, DN, Pappy and Mamu.

“It’s a Raptor!” cried the wee Bud. They both took it for a spin and then he just wanted to park it in the garage where he inspected every inch of it (under the hood, how the tailgate worked, etc.).

He then proceeded to load the flatbed up with items from the garage.

Lottie went inside (it was cold) and enjoyed wearing her unicorn headband (which I had bought at the Dollar Store) and played with the old nativity set. The Bud came in too after awhile and they played inside, before he got up the nerve to drive it again, which he did like a pro.

Human beings are amazing, aren’t they? I mean, a five-year old who weighs 28 lbs. can actually handle driving a battery-powered vehicle on the road around the cul de sac and into the driveway like Steve McQueen. Later Lottie decided she would try too and she drove and waved simultaneously like the Queen.

As you know I am reading the book of Luke, one chapter a day, through December. This weekend I read chapters 11 and 12, and let me tell you, they left me shaking in my boots like the Scarecrow in front of the Wizard of Oz. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning…

This weekend surely reminded us that, although we humans are pretty amazing, we are not in control.

We are never in control. “Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?”

“No one ever said that you would live to see the repercussions of everything you do, or that you have guarantees, or that you are not obliged to wander in the dark, or that everything will be proved to you and neatly verified like something in science. Nothing is: at least nothing that is worthwhile. I didn’t bring you up only to move across sure ground. I didn’t teach you to think that everything must be within our control or understanding. Did I? For, if I did, I was wrong. If you won’t take a chance, then the powers you refuse because you cannot explain them, will, as they say, make a monkey out of you.”

__Mark Helprin, Winter’s Tale

Trust God. Keep in the narrow way.

*Hymn #226, William Chatterton Dix, 1860