The Bright Side of Storms

Small plane pilots give thunderstorms a wide berth. Many aviators fear accidentally flying into a brewing system and I’m no exception. But in everyday life on the ground, thunderstorms elicit a different response. They excite me.

When I’m outside on a hot day with no wind and a sudden breeze cools the back of my neck, I sometimes turn to see dark clouds billowing over the horizon. The temperature ticks down, the wind starts to gust. I’ll watch the updrafts make nearby trees flash the pale green underbellies of their leaves. As the day goes dark and distant thunder rumbles, my body begins to brim with energy. In these moments it’s easy to imagine some cosmic force has torn a rift between worlds and who knows what may appear from the other side?

Why do storms energize me? They can bring damage, they may bring loss. Sometimes they bring death.

But storms also bring change. Storms roll in to douse the heat when you’ve had six scorching days in a row. They arrive in the midst of stale routine to shake you awake. As thunderstorms advance, you sense larger forces at work and you know in their aftermath, you may not be the same person you were before. Even if you are someone who doesn’t like change, the storms of life keep you alert and push you forward, they keep you growing. Without change, there is no growth.

The next time a storm enters your life, consider embracing the change it brings, and the inevitable growth.