YOU KNOW, THAT'S HARD TO DO

About a week ago we were under a tornado warning. In AZ. Reports had one on the ground just a few miles from where we live. In AZ. (In Az twice for emphasis.) About that time, I was channel surfing after watching a pretty good movie on On Demand when I saw the warning scoot across the tv.

"Wait a minute. Did that say Tornado Warning?" My wife was silent. Not out of fear or sleepiness (I mean it was nearing 9:00, which actually means I should have been dozing. I don't know why, but 80% of the time when I'm at home, I conk out for 2-10 minutes between 8:30 and 9:00), but out of having to listen to me all day.

There were blizzard warnings for northern AZ, flash flood warnings for mid AZ and yep, a tornado warning for us. As I read the words on the tv screen a flash of lightning looked as if it shot between us and the tv. My wife, then in an answering mode thought it was a reflection from a skylight or somehow from closed plantation shutters. She was probably correct since there was no strike, just a flash. No more lightning than we have, I probably just forgot what flashes look like and thought it the real thing.

Was I fearful? Are you kidding me? Our house is not constructed the best in the world. Most aren't in AZ. Sitting on a slab and stuccoed, our house is vulernable. I 'd think a hungry tornado could level them with the ease of a '50's kid knocking down Lincoln Logs. (I saw them on sale this year along with an electric football game. The game cost $100. Unbelievable.) We didn't even know where to go in our house. A tv weatherman said "go to a basement". Yeah, right. There are so many in AZ. I'd estimate 1 in 10,000 homes.

We have a sunken living room. About a one foot drop off that friends and our youngest grandchild have experienced. But usually only once. After a turned ankle or in VJ's case, a bloody lip, well most remember. But we didn't think that would help much.

We have a sunken bathtub with a little more drop to it, but fitting two in there might be a chore. So we stayed in front of the tv while Alaskan type Winter winds swirled and cried to be allowed inside.

They passed. The storm raged through. I thought of Jesus going to sleep in the storm in the boat on Galilee while some of his disciples were frightened. He calmed the storm and provided the lesson that all we have to fear is God. And I believe it because scripture says it more than once. (I'd believe it if scripture only said it once.)

But I think maybe we can be a little scared. I wonder what time it was on the Sea or Lake. I'd guess about 8:45.