The thing that has struck me most, both here and at the site of another F5 tornado in Plainfield, Illinois near where my parents lived (Aug. 28, 1990), is how the landscape appeared to be scoured. (For a picture of the Plainville tornado destruction, see http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2805425525_f2e8aee080.jpg?v=) In the areas under reconstruction, there are virtually no trees left standing. In one of my pictures, there is a tree, but the branches appear to have all been cropped. This was at the northern end of the path of destruction. South of this, there are no trees left at all.
I took a picture of the construction going on at the school, and another of a bank that is having the entire front end of the building rebuilt. I had watched a video on You Tube that this bank's security camera took as the tornado tore through the building. I am amazed that with the power of that storm, even half of the building was left standing.
Tornadoes fascinate me. I would like to see one someday - preferably from a very safe distance! I'm curious, but I'm not foolish! It is incredible to think that so much destruction can come from moving air.
I may never have seen an actual tornado, but there have been the equivalent of F5's in my life. One moment all is well. A moment later, devastation hits and I'm left wondering how everything can fall apart so completely, so fast.
In Parkersburg, the destruction isn't the end of the story. Where a few months ago there was nothing but debris, there are now beautiful new homes and businesses under construction. The same is true in our lives.
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Storms come, and the results can cause all kinds of havoc. But God is so sovereign, so amazing, that He can take the very worst that life throws at us, and use it to build something beautiful. THAT is a power infinitely greater than the strength of an F5 tornado!
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2 comments:
Hi Sharon--
Eric Sloter here (DBMD). Thanks for sharing your blog site with me. I enjoyed reading this very much.
Interestingly, I was in Joliet, Illinois, on the day the f5 hit Plainfield. Incredible stuff, even in Joliet. Felt like the building I was in was going down for sure.
About 3 hours or so after the tornado hit the town of Plainfield, I went there looking for a friend and her family. Their home, it turned out, was destroyed by the tornado, with her mom just escaping with her life. Ultimately, no one in their family was hurt.
Anyway, I'll never forget the sight.
It was good to meet with you again yesterday in Charles City. May the Lord continue to lead, guide and care for you and your family in the days to come.
Blessings always,
Eric
That would have been a pretty frightening experience! My mother said she watched the tornado through her back window. She was about 10 miles away, and it looked very close to her. It must have been huge!
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