Shake Things Up

Our staff meeting rocked this morning: literally!

Earthquakes are a fact of life in California. Big ones are rare, but they do shake things up.

I've lived other places where tornadoes and hurricanes are the "rare" fact of life that shakes things up. But, there is a difference. Tornadoes (generally) and hurricanes are preceded by predictions and warnings. There is a period of preparation. Some people find this comforting. Others find it annoying. You wait for the storm, you listen for the siren, you evacuate or hunker down. You wait. You anticipate.

Earthquakes just happen.

There is no preparation.

There is no warning.

There is no waiting or listening.

So, I've always understood when people outside of California talk about the fear of earthquakes. The idea is that if you cannot prepare for the disaster or wait for the disaster than the danger is greater.

However, I think there is a spiritual parallel here...

The Christian community lives, generally, like people who are accustomed to tornadoes and hurricanes. There will be warnings (of danger or attack). We can prepare once we hear the siren or see the weather report. When, in actuality, spiritual warfare/danger is constantly swirling around us and can strike at any time.

There is no warning.

There is no preparation.

Reminds me we should all live "spiritually" like Californians: earthquakes are happening all the time. It's the just the really big ones that shake us up.