When the Storm Comes, Can Your Umbrella Withstand a Falling Iguana?

This has been quite a year. First we had the virus. Still have it. Then came the cancellation of all spring sports, including college baseball and the Masters. That’s when this virus got personal for me. But I’m coping. Then the murder hornets came. Don’t know what happened to them. Murder hornets? Really? What’s next? Killer shrimp? Well, now that you mention it, yes. Killer shrimp have arrived. And I don’t mean shrimp that taste really good.

            I am taking the British Isles off of my list of potential vacation spots. Killer shrimp have invaded the islands. This shrimp is only about 1 and ½ inches long but like a travel ball mom  yelling at the umpire  it has an extremely large mouth and a really bad attitude. Humans are not normally on their diet . . . uh, the shrimp, not the travel ball moms, but when I see a description that includes the phrases “vicious behavior,” and “killing and maiming indiscriminately,” I don’t plan on taking any chances.

            Then there is this story out of California, state motto “Come to California. If the scenery doesn’t move you the next natural disaster will.”  Some of the towns in California have been invaded by six-foot tall tumbleweeds. This is not the occasional tumbleweed crossing the road in front of you on a lonely highway, like a scene out of an Ernest Hemingway novel. No, these tumbleweeds, like rude distant cousins at a family reunion, can cover and take over your house in less time than it takes to say, “Hey, that cousin over there looks just like Ernest T. Bass.” Local authorities have agreed the only way to get rid of the tumbleweeds is to glue them all together and build a statue, guaranteed to be destroyed within twenty-four hours.

            But the scariest invasion is taking place in Florida, state motto, “Come enjoy our beaches and our ugly shorts!” This spring, iguanas were falling out of the trees in north Florida. Evidently when temperatures reach the 40’s the iguana’s metabolism slows down so much it becomes immobile and can fall out of trees. They are only momentarily stunned. They eventually wake up, sort of like deacons sleeping during worship. I can hear the local meteorologist now, “The low tonight will be 45 with a 50% chance of rain and a 90% chance of falling iguanas. The barometer is not the only thing that will be falling. Please seek shelter where you can find it.”

            So, what about you? Are you prepared for whatever life rains down on you? Sure, it probably doesn’t include killer shrimp or a massive amount of tumbleweeds. But it could include criticism from a supervisor, a discouraging word from a friend, or some not-so-good news from the doctor. You ever experience a traffic jam on the way to work? Have you ever been disappointed? Maybe you’re just in a funk because of the news that bombards us daily.  Your spiritual umbrella can’t handle all of that if it is weak and full of holes.

            Here’s what you do. Take some scripture out of your umbrella stand. Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid” (NIV). And Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (NIV). When bad news comes your way seek shelter under the wings of God. That covers you for everything in life . . . especially falling iguanas.