Gone with the Wind

I must say, I was warned by friends that a tornado had hit the cabin and messed it up pretty bad.

I was also warned by finding some of our neighbor's barn next to the driveway as I headed in.

Walking back to the lake, I got even more warnings from several trees in the front pasture that had piles of ripped-off limbs around them.

One stray branch was driven vertically into the ground.

It's hard to believe this was even a tree!  It looks like it was stuck into a giant shredder.

As I got back to the lake, I could tell the trees there had suffered, too.

From a distance, the cabin didn't look soooo bad . . .

. . . until I realized that this concrete "popsicle" was one of the corner piers that had been ripped up out of the ground (the hole is directly above the concrete in this photo)--and the whole cabin picked up and slammed down about 8' to the left.

Then the roof got slammed back down at an angle, smashing the cabin beneath it.

 

I didn't even go in for fear of something collapsing on me.

That's a piece of the roof wrapped around a pine tree at the far end of the lake.

I'm afraid our poor, dear cabin--scene of so many happy hours--has "gone with the wind."

Despite the ruin at the lake, a Canada goose is nesting on the pond, and the house stands untouched.
Friends were staying at the farm when this tornado hit, and we're so thankful to God for His protection, once again!

The neighbor who lost part of his barn had just been in his barn, walked to his house, turned--and saw the tornado come hopping and skipping right at the barn, taking out the very spot he'd been standing minutes earlier.

We know that accidents don't happen with God our Creator.  We aren't sure yet what His plan is for the future of the lake, but we know it is good because it is His plan.

Hearing and Seeing God

I went down to Leahaven yesterday to check on things, and after I finished my work I treated myself to a drive back to the lake.  As usual, there was plenty to photograph.  Later, as I looked at my favorite photos of the day, it occurred to me that a common theme unites them:  Hearing and Seeing God.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 

Luke 9:57-58 (NIV)

"See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. . . . So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need [these things]." 

Matt. 6:28-32 (NIV)

There is beauty even in the winter-dark water of the lake that reminds me of Daniel's words to Nebuchadnezzar:

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." 

Dan. 2:20-22 (NIV)

I was already turning the truck to leave when the wind kicked up, stirring the still, dark water into silvery ripples and rustling the grass at the edge of the lake.  I had to stop and jump out with my camera to capture this image of Jesus' words to Nicodemus:

"The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

John 3:8 (NIV)