| “The Silent Destroyer” |
| WHO IS MURRAY McCANDLESS? Go HERE to find out! |
Now that the ice storm is “history” it becomes
somewhat easier to talk about it, unlike when
we were all sitting in the dark and cold
wondering when the power would come back
on. Now we can at least grin about it when
someone mentions it. Recently I was driving
on a road I hadn’t seen in a while and it is pretty
obvious where much of Elizabethtown’s and
Radcliff’s storm debris went. It is piled high
somewhat easier to talk about it, unlike when
we were all sitting in the dark and cold
wondering when the power would come back
on. Now we can at least grin about it when
someone mentions it. Recently I was driving
on a road I hadn’t seen in a while and it is pretty
obvious where much of Elizabethtown’s and
Radcliff’s storm debris went. It is piled high
From the Mainstream (which is melted and flowing freely),
I’m Pastor Murray
I’m Pastor Murray
I remember the night of the ice storm well.
along the shoulders of the Radcliff bypass. I
have also seen some of the drop off points in
Louisville and I am amazed at how much
damage was done in such a short period of
time. Actually, I have been thinking about this
article for weeks, but with the sun shining and
the flowers beginning to bloom, it feels like a
good time to write.
have also seen some of the drop off points in
Louisville and I am amazed at how much
damage was done in such a short period of
time. Actually, I have been thinking about this
article for weeks, but with the sun shining and
the flowers beginning to bloom, it feels like a
good time to write.
CCCCRRRRRRAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKK!
Then…WWWHHHHHOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH; and then more
cracking. The second sound being the broken limbs from the tops of the trees
crashing down through the lower limbs, both being weighted heavily with ice. It
lasted all through the night. When we finally got out of bed, we, like many in our
neighborhood, looked out our windows to assess the damage and destruction
that had occurred without one bomb exploding, without one tornado twisting
through the town, without one hurricane blowing down the trees (ok, we are a
little far inland to have that happen) or an earthquake splitting the ground beneath
us. It was all done with relative silence over an extended period of time. Even
now, the clean up is still ongoing.
Then…WWWHHHHHOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH; and then more
cracking. The second sound being the broken limbs from the tops of the trees
crashing down through the lower limbs, both being weighted heavily with ice. It
lasted all through the night. When we finally got out of bed, we, like many in our
neighborhood, looked out our windows to assess the damage and destruction
that had occurred without one bomb exploding, without one tornado twisting
through the town, without one hurricane blowing down the trees (ok, we are a
little far inland to have that happen) or an earthquake splitting the ground beneath
us. It was all done with relative silence over an extended period of time. Even
now, the clean up is still ongoing.
It was at first a very pretty sight; glistening crystals of ice falling gently on the
trees making our back yard a sparkling wonderland of reflective light. Everything
was so still and peaceful. I look out to see the car covered in a layer of thick clear
ice. I felt safe and warm inside my home watching the news reports warning folks
to stay at home as driving was treacherous. I didn’t need any convincing. It was
Tuesday evening just after 5 o’clock when the lights and the TV blinked off and
then on. Shortly thereafter, we saw (and heard) the blinding electric light of a
transformer behind our house exploding. Now it was REALLY silent. No white
noise, no computer clicks or heaters humming. No TV, no refrigerator, no nothing.
trees making our back yard a sparkling wonderland of reflective light. Everything
was so still and peaceful. I look out to see the car covered in a layer of thick clear
ice. I felt safe and warm inside my home watching the news reports warning folks
to stay at home as driving was treacherous. I didn’t need any convincing. It was
Tuesday evening just after 5 o’clock when the lights and the TV blinked off and
then on. Shortly thereafter, we saw (and heard) the blinding electric light of a
transformer behind our house exploding. Now it was REALLY silent. No white
noise, no computer clicks or heaters humming. No TV, no refrigerator, no nothing.
We went to bed that night, but
sleep did not come easily. The
only sound I could hear was the
soft ice crystals landing on the
roof, the ground, the trees and the
wires. Eventually, it would
become too much weight for the
trees and wires to bear. The
sound was like nothing else I had
ever heard. It was like listening to
a slow motion audio of cracking
wood.
sleep did not come easily. The
only sound I could hear was the
soft ice crystals landing on the
roof, the ground, the trees and the
wires. Eventually, it would
become too much weight for the
trees and wires to bear. The
sound was like nothing else I had
ever heard. It was like listening to
a slow motion audio of cracking
wood.
The parallels are numerous. Spiritually, many times we are looking for the BIG
destructive forces that come in like a raging torrent and tear our lives apart. We are
on our guard for the storms that destroy with great force and speed. We are less
likely to be aware of the slower and much more silent forces of destruction. I won’t
go into detail or make a list, we all have our own silent forces of destruction. Some
of the things that have the most power to destroy at first appear to be practically
harmless; even pretty. We dabble with the baubles of destructive power like one
would try to pet a sleeping lion as though it were a kitten. It builds up over time all
the while weighing us down farther. We accommodate, we adapt, we think we are
in control, until the load becomes too much. The weighted parts or our lives come
crashing down on other aspects of our lives leaving a path of destruction that
appears impossible to clean up.
destructive forces that come in like a raging torrent and tear our lives apart. We are
on our guard for the storms that destroy with great force and speed. We are less
likely to be aware of the slower and much more silent forces of destruction. I won’t
go into detail or make a list, we all have our own silent forces of destruction. Some
of the things that have the most power to destroy at first appear to be practically
harmless; even pretty. We dabble with the baubles of destructive power like one
would try to pet a sleeping lion as though it were a kitten. It builds up over time all
the while weighing us down farther. We accommodate, we adapt, we think we are
in control, until the load becomes too much. The weighted parts or our lives come
crashing down on other aspects of our lives leaving a path of destruction that
appears impossible to clean up.
Churches from several states away came to the rescue of thousands in Kentucky
to help clear away brush and debris after the storm. But within the church, we also
have the opportunity, yes, even the responsibility to minister to each other and
with each other. Church is family. We love each other and we take care of each
other. Sometimes it even means saying to someone, “Hey, it looks like you’ve got
some ice building up on your branches. Maybe I could help you before something
happens.” It’s risky to love like that, it is even more risky not to.
to help clear away brush and debris after the storm. But within the church, we also
have the opportunity, yes, even the responsibility to minister to each other and
with each other. Church is family. We love each other and we take care of each
other. Sometimes it even means saying to someone, “Hey, it looks like you’ve got
some ice building up on your branches. Maybe I could help you before something
happens.” It’s risky to love like that, it is even more risky not to.
