October 3 – “Thunder”

We once again departed Galveston yesterday and made our way into Texas.  The journey to our abode for the next two days wasn’t too arduous.  Chris only had to avoid one out-of-control trucker who obviously had somewhere to be and was certain to be more than fashionably late.  The eighteen-wheeler was weaving in and out of traffic like he thought it was a Ferrari or something.  At one point Chris threatened to catch up with him to get that phone number they post on the truck, but she would have had to hit at least eighty to do that.  I figured maybe he just got word that his wife was having a baby or maybe he had an imaginary police officer hot on his heels, and he had to outrun him or face the horrible consequences of ending up in an alien spaceship, the subject of unheard-of experiments.  Or maybe he just liked driving fast.

The hotel acquired for us by the wedding party (Did I mention we are up here because I am officiating a wedding tonight?) was in The Woodlands.  The wedding is back down in Spring.  According to the nice lady on Google Maps, the venue is only fifteen minutes away.  Sounded like a snap.  On a hunch, though, we decided to leave forty-five minutes early for the rehearsal, since we were not sure where we were going.  Old faithful GML (Google Maps Lady) assured us we were mere moments away.  Until we got on the freeway.  In seconds we were reminded of yet another reason we were ecstatic when God called us away from Houston.  Traffic was horrible, and it only got worse the closer we got to our destination.  And all the while, GML kept assuring us we were only four minutes away. 

We finally arrived at the venue just over an hour later.  Good thing we left when we did.  Of course we were not the only ones stuck in traffic.  The groom didn’t arrive until almost 6:30.  We finally did get started, though.  The place was called the Spring Chateau.  I fully expected to see a castle, but when we pulled up it was more of a quaint, secluded garden spot.  The wedding will be indoors, though, so no worries about the horrible heat.  Or in this case, the possible rain.  An actual cold front blew through last night.  At exactly 12:30 a.m.  I was there and I was awake.  Lots of thunder.  Lasted until around 2:30.  Have you ever tried to ignore something like thunder after you have already heard it for the first time?  Almost impossible. 

But backing up for a second, the rehearsal dinner was held at a Mexican food place called Cilantros.  The food was pretty good.  Queso, fajitas, rice and beans.  The beef fajitas were really good.  Chris said the chicken was good, too.  Not a lot of fanfare.  The groom’s dad welcomed everyone and prayed.  He was obviously very nervous, but did a great job.  Our trip back to the hotel was considerably less eventful.  We found a short cut for one thing, and I guess the fact that it was after 9 p.m. might have had a little bit to do with it as well.  Chris was out like a light when her head hit the pillow.  I finally turned the lights off around 11:30.  And then came the thunder.  Maybe I can catch a nap during the wedding when the preacher starts his sermon.  Wait.  There is something amiss with that plan …

Job 26: says, “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!  Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

Father, thank you for the chance to experience tastes of your immense power in thunderstorms.  Thank you as well for the gentle whispers of your love.  Amen.