A tornado went over my house last Sunday. The EF1 storm touched down about a mile from us. This is rare in our neighborhood, and I can’t remember a tornado this close since I was a little girl. Birmingham is sheltered by a couple of small mountains and tornadoes prefer open area, but they are also very unpredictable!

I was awakened by the sound of rain, wind, hail and something like a rushing train. No sirens! The storm moved quickly, and by the time I thought we should move to our safe area, the storm had passed without any significant damage. Down the road, folk weren’t so fortunate.

Life is full of storms. Some hit us head-on without warning and some skip over us. A near-miss of any kind is a reminder of the possibilities we face every day. We get out of bed mostly assuming the day will go according to plan. Sometimes we’re right and other times, well . . . not so much.

The holidays can be stormy, but I am hoping for fair weather for all of us!

In wisdom, grace, and hope,

Rev. Ruth