Strange but true

Group, Jan/Feb 2001 by Feldbush, Jim

the night the tornado changed its mind

Last summer my youth group and I were part of a 22,000-strong gathering of young people and their youth leaders on the grounds of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Wisconsin. The kids were there to learn camping skills, fellowship with each other, and study God's Word. Things were going amazingly well until the third night of the event when bad weather starting brewing. We tensed as we learned that a major hailstorm and tornado were headed right for us.

What do you do with 22,000 campers and a tornado? Organizers rapidly began moving the young people into four large aircraft hangars as the tornado edged closer. The wind howled while the young peoplesome crying, some singing, and some praying-tramped through the rain to what everyone hoped would be places of safety.

Even though everyone was moving as quickly as possible, we realized that we were about to run out of time. We could sense that the tornado was swiftly closing in on us and not all of the 22,000 were inside. Prayers ascended throughout the rain-drenched camp. Some people stopped right where they were, knelt in the mud, and prayed in small groups. "God, save us," they pleaded.

And then it happened. There was a calm. The rain stopped. The sky was quiet.

It wasn't until the next morning while listening to the news, that we understood what had happened. The tornado was indeed headed straight for us. On the main highway, just a few hundred yards away, hail fell savagely. Yet, no hail fell on the campground full of tents. The tornado-well, it took an "unexplained" turn to the north.

The stories in Joshua where God hurled hailstones down on the Amorites or made the sun stand still in the heavens may seem pretty far-fetched to some, and that other story where Jesus calmed the storm while standing in a sinking boat may be a bit unbelievable to others. But now I know what it feels like. I think I understand what those disciples must have been thinking as the lake shimmered quietly under a suddenly moonlit sky. I have an idea of what the Israelites may have been saying as the sun just stood there!

Do you think God still intervenes on behalf of his people today? Is it possible that the God who made the sun stand still and the God who calmed the sea, still watches over and protects us in this new millennium? I know he does. I was there "the night the tornado changed its mind."

Jim Feldbush is a veteran youth worker and a school counselor in Colorado.