A Very Blustery Day...

Not too long ago, we had some very strong winds blow through all across the state of Montana.  Up here in Glasgow, the winds topped at about 55 mph but in other places, it got up to around 78 mph.  It was a Sunday morning and during Church services the power turned off every now and then, but wasn't off for long.  All throughout the service the wind blowed and pounded against the Church; it made us inside feel very lucky to all be safe and warm inside the building.  You would, however, eventually have to venture outside from the safety of the building to make it to your car, and that proved to be quite an adventure.  The winds subsided at about 3pm in the afternoon.

Just recently I heard of another quite windy, and odd, day back home in California as a funnel cloud developed over the Mather Airfield, just a couple miles from home.  Thinking of these windy, "blustery days" reminded me of a "little hum" that Winnie the Pooh sang in "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day".

"Hum dum dum ditty dum
Hum dum dum
Oh the wind is lashing lustily
And the trees are thrashing thrustily
And the leaves are rustling gustily
So it's rather safe to say
That it seems that it may turn out to be
It feels that it will undoubtedly
It looks like a rather blustery day, today"

Pooh's words couldn't describe our day's any better - they were indeed very blustery days.  Aside from battling the winds, I also made a  interesting connection though between that and when the Savior and his disciples where in the midst of a raging sea, with His disciples fearing for their lives.

"And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" (Mat. 8:23-27)

Admist the windy day that we had in Glasgow, the most notable part of it was when the winds had completely stopped (or at least subsided a bit!).  It was very noticeable, especially since you were no longer having to lean forward into the wind to get anywhere.  There was a calm all around, the winds had ceased.  Recognizing that difference made me recall the thoughts of the Apostles in the boat, when they marvelled at His power, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!".  How great it must have been to witness such a miracle, when the winds and the sea seemed as if to overcome them, to have Jesus Christ stand amongst them, calmly and with authority, rebuke the raging sea and surging winds.

That same power and love can be felt in our lives, too, when the winds of adversity blow against us from every direction.  Sometimes we might even cry out in despair, like the Apostles, and say to our Master, Lord, and King, "carest thou not that we perish?".  Through it all we must retain our hope and faith that just as He rebuked the tempest in the sea, Christ too can rebuke the winds of adversity and instill "a calm all around" us.  "And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in.  Never surrender.  Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.

Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart" - for the day will come when He will rebuke your own, personal tempest in the sea (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf)