Monday, May 4, 2009

The Storm

The stillness of the moment makes me pause and look outside
The skies are dark and gloomy and my mood begins to slide

I’m waiting for the clouds to burst and pour forth pelting rain
I’m looking for the lightning bolts and thunder’s loud refrain

I feel an eerie presence hanging thickly in the air
A heaviness and pressure seems to linger everywhere

There is a distant rumble so I step outside to look
It makes me kind of antsy so I go inside and cook

I light a scented candle and I turn some music on
Might as well exchange the worry for a melancholy song

Why not light a glowing fire to improve my sullen mood
And I’ll make an apple crumble to enjoy after my food

Then I sit and put my feet up as I read a much loved book
Suddenly the pending weather doesn’t get a second look

I get lost inside my story with the words familiar flow
Feeling such a snug contentment by the hearth-side’s warming glow

With the cat beside me purring I reach out and stroke her fur
Then I yawn and drop my book and everything becomes a blur

When my sleepy eyes awaken after my short peaceful nap
I see a flash of lightning and I hear a thunder clap

I blow out the flickering candle, snuggle with my nervous cat
Buckle down beside the fire as the rain begins to splat

Then the hail begins to plunder and the sirens start to blow
To the basement I must wander, with my cat and book in tow

But the lights begin to flicker and then darkness fills the room
Suddenly what was contentment turns into a dreaded gloom

Lord, please calm my fearful spirit, hold me with your loving arm
Please watch over my possessions, keep me safe from sudden harm

As I prayed I felt a calmness that I’ve never felt before
Though the storm outside was raging peace knelt by me on the floor

Wind, rain, hail, lightning, and thunder carried on for quite awhile
But the peace that God had given caused my trembling lips to smile

Then the lights lit up the darkness and the sirens blew no more
I rose from my sheltered corner , climbed the stairs, and out the door

Broken limbs and scattered branches, twisted pieces of debris
But the damage wasn’t drastic and the Lord had heard my plea

Lord, thank you for all your blessings, for your love, and for your care
In the midst of future storms I face, I’ll always know you’re there!

By Linda Hogeland ~~~ May 2009

16 comments:

Kristin said...

I love this poem too! You just reminded me that today is Abigail's monthly poetry and I have no poem at all written! I will have to come up with one! LOL

I was just reading your comments on my blog. I wish I could run into you at Target too! Ha!! So, what did you think of the Twilight movie. When I was watching it, I was realizing it's probably really boring to someone who hasn't read the books. I haven't seen some of the movies you mentioned, so I will have to find them and watch them!

I just had to tell you something AMAZING that happened last night! Morgan asked me how do you get saved!!! Can you believe that?! I will let him make that decision in his own time, but I am so thankful that us going to church has prompted him to want to know more! Everyone's prayers are working!

Love you! Thanks for sharing in my special moments with me!

Kristin

Veronica said...

Awesome poem Linda!
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Love ya!

Deanna said...

Dear Linda,
I'm so glad I stopped by your blog this morning and read this poem!
Liked it.

I really liked the parts about scented candles, music on, apple crumble and onto Lord, please calm my fearful spirit, hold me with your loving arm. Please watch over my possessions, keep me safe from sudden harm.

So thankful we can pray to God anytime and place.
Blessings to you,
Deanna

Jared Kraft said...

What an awesome poem. I can totally relate to those "storm" feelings!

I'm so thankful we serve a loving God who takes us through all of the storms of our lives. : )

Love you,
Jared

Raye Ann said...

I have been threw storms like that. With God by your side you can sit and watch through the plate glass window the twister come toward you , knowing that you have no place to go without fear. I feel like my life is back in that place again. And just like then God is with me and the twister never hits.

Thank you so much for stoping by today.

Blessings Sweet Sister

Jennifer said...

I absolutely love that comes in the midst of the storm! Knowing it in our brain is wonderful...but actually experiencing the storm and trusting God in it for the peace - is amazing!! Beautiful peom!

Leisha said...

He truly is our perfect peace in life's storms!! Thank you for sharing your poetry today - I am so glad you stopped by my blog and gave me the opportunity to do the same......I'll be back ;-)
Blessings,
Leisha

Rosie@Home and Heartwork said...

I love that poem. Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog today. Blessings and prayers your way!
Rosie

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Wow. God has truly gifted you as a writer. I LOVED when you said, "Peace knelt down beside me." Beautiful. I am already trying to think of how I can throw it into casual conversation with my husband (I promise I will give you the credit, AFTER his initial surprise!)

Thank you for the "Follow". I am following along with you too. Loved your blog this morning. :O)

Cindy said...

I sure wish I could write that well! Beautiful! I came by to say thanks for the nice comment you left me and for adding my button to your sidebar!

Tricia said...

That is beautiful... and it ministered to my heart today! I feel as if I am in the midst of a storm, and not sure when it will end... but it will, I am sure, and I know that through the storm my Savior and Lord will always be by my side...

Thanks for your sweet words and your prayers for me, I greatly appreciate them...

Blessings!

Veronica said...

Hi Mom,

Just wanted to say thanks for all your suggestions for scriptures for my hat tags. I really appreciate all your help. Be sure to stop by my blog today. I have something for you!

Abigail Kraft said...

This is beautiful Grandma! It's both realistic, and metaphorical...I personally view storms in a bit more of the excited light, but still, sometimes anxiety takes over, and I have to go into this peaceful place which you have described--with my Father kneeling beside me. :)

Thanks for joining in Grandma! I always love your poems. :)

Love you!
--Ab

Laurie Ann said...

What a great poem. Praise God for His protection. Thanks for sharing what you did on my post today. Weight is another one of my issues as well...one thing at a time.

Anonymous said...

Hello Linda,

I am so glad that I stopped by today, in time to read your thoughts and feel the love and trust you have for our Savior! How inspiring, you have a gift for sure!
My daughter and family came home this weekend, just for the weekend, drove down fri- drove back sunday! Only the young! But anyway she called when they got home and said that they drove through the most awful storms, she said it was worse then when they came down for the winter trips! and when they turned on the news they were just talking about a tornado that had went through the town they had just drove through! You can imagine my mommy mind...now I have a whole other thing to stress over when they are driving! hahah..I am so Glad Jesus is in control of EVERTHING...I just cound not stand up to the stress! Blessing to you. Shi~

Meredith said...

Living in a "tornado alley", I can totally relate to that poem. You are very talented.
Peace knelt by me....I love it!! So thankful He is bigger than our storms!