WITNESSING A DERECHO

DERECHO, SIOUX FALLS, SD

Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning,

Green sky in the afternoon, pilgrim take cover soon!

I recently ran across a photo from South Dakota that triggered a latent memory from my childhood in Kansas.  The photo captured a rare sight that is only seen during a violent weather event which meteorologists call a derecho which means “straight ahead” in Spanish.  That’s the first and last time that I witnessed a green sky in the west and just as rare an event when the storm reached our neighborhood.

A derecho is a widespread and long-lived, fast moving, straight line, storm that can extend for more than 250 miles and include very strong, severe, damaging winds and wind gusts.  The green, apocalyptic-looking sky implies that the deep blue clouds are saturated with water and ice particles which scatter the short wavelength blue light rays.  When the longer wavelength red sunset beams of light illuminate the blue objects in the sky, it morphs to green.  It’s an indication that the ice particles have been tumbled up and back down in the turbulent clouds until the hail stones weigh enough to strike the earth’s surface.  This intense weather event can even spawn destructive tornadoes and downward microbursts.

Back in Kansas, I recall standing on the sidewalk outside our home when the approaching storm caught my attention.  I could see distant lightning flashes and the thunderous responses getting closer together as the storm gathered nearer.  And as it ominously came closer to me over the neighboring homes and elm trees, I saw the blue sky turn into that apocalyptic green as if the world was coming to an end!  I ran inside the house and called my mother to come outside and see this green mass descending upon us.

We stood together on the front porch for some sense of security and then witnessed a second anomaly that I’ve never seen since.  The skies opened with a torrential rain and large hail pummeling the land across the street, but our side of the street was spared.  Not one drop of rain or hail crossed that road and the storm passed almost as quickly as it arrived. 

Watching the skies actually turn from a bright blue to an ominous dark green probably couldn’t compare to the ancient Egyptians watching the Nile River turn from a deep blue to a blood red or the worst thunderstorm ever of hail and fire during the ten plagues.   But it left an indelible memory with an impressionable young Kansas boy that day.

LAST ROSE OF SUMMER, FIRST RAIN OF FALL

Rain Rose, Jamestown, NC

Tomorrow marks the first day of the fall season with shortening days of sunshine and cooler nights.  Summer enjoyed one last surge of hot and humid days without much relief to ease the parched land.  This year’s arrival of another season has perfect timing as abundant rains have arrived ahead of a cold front that will transform the ambient air to cool and dry.  These are the kinder, gentler rains of fall that lull one to sleep at night with a smile on your face.  They serenade you during the day and provide just the right background music for reading a good book. 

A pair of Blue Jays out my window screech at one another as they move among the tree canopy announcing the imminent change.  Many of the birch tree leaves have already turned yellow and the wet rain has added just enough weight to dislodge them from their moorings high above.  They drift to the resurgent grasses below in silent waves on the northern breezes.  The familiar sound of the Jays in a gentle rain triggers the memory a more innocent time as a child in Kansas when I sat on the back porch and wondered at a similar scene, as I lamented the end of summer vacation. 

I wandered out onto the back deck during a lull in the rain and nature did not disappoint.  Rain droplets were randomly falling from the tree leaves and dripping off of nearby rooftops.  The skies were still ominously dark and the air was much cooler than yesterday when I was preparing the yard for the coming melancholy season of harvest and the winnowing down of fallow fields.  A departing airline’s jet engine in the storm clouds breaks the silence and its alien sound rises and then falls as it passes overhead, giving way to a distant drone and then silence once again.     

You can sense the seasons changing the guard as summer acquiesces to fall.  Then my eye caught the red glow of one of the last rose blooms of the summer season peering through the railing.  It was bejeweled in diamond rain drops that glistened in the faint light of day as if to celebrate the occasion.  

Dark shadows silently descend on the motionless land as gentle rain drops once again quench the thankful earth.  Another circle of life has marked the earth’s passage around the sun.  And in the midst of the peaceful calm, God whispers through the stillness, “Well done, rest and be at peace”.

WILLARD DAIRY BARN HAIKU

Weathered Willard Dairy Barn, High Point, NC

The old dairy barn,
braces itself for the storm,
as the sun withdraws.

Twin vine-wrapped silos,
stand resolute and fearless,
facing the dark clouds.

A hawk seeks shelter,
as he soars on the brisk wind,
and glides safely home.

Tall pasture grasses,
wave in synch as the wind gusts,
welcoming the rain.

ANATOMY OF A SUMMER STORM HAIKU

Anvil Storm Cloud, Flint Hills, KS
Rain Storm, Jamestown, NC
Storm Pines, Jamestown, NC
Mare's Tails, Jamestown, NC


Quickening south winds,
stir Thunder Being Nation,
and begin to sail.

Vapor droplets join,
rise on warming air currents,
and gain momentum.

Sky sculptures are formed,
spontaneously expand,
and block out the sun.

Fire spears strike the earth.
War drums shatter the silence.
Rain falls in blankets.

Leading gusty winds,
uproot trees with abandon,
and snap them in half.

Double rainbows glow,
gurgling stream voices respond,
and chant Hey-A-Hey.

Tender shoots of grass,
turn their faces to the sun,
and mare’s tails glide by.

http://soundbible.com/2090-Night-Time-Storm.html

HAIKU STORM

Summer Storm, Jamestown, NC

Quickening south winds,
stir Thunder Being Nation,
and begin to sail.

Vapor droplets join,
rise on warming air currents,
and gain momentum.

Sky sculptures are formed,
spontaneously expand,
and block out the sun.

Fire spears strike the earth,
war drums shatter the silence,
and sheets of rain fall.

Double rainbows glow,
gurgling stream voices respond,
and chant Hey-A-Hey.

Tender shoots of grass,
turn their faces to the sun,
and the sky shines blue.

AFTER THE RAIN

After the Rain, Jamestown, NC

An early fall overnight rain renews the land that has been in full production throughout the summer. New life that has been struggling to gather strength is suddenly given a rush of energy and life giving fluids. Wilted leaves suddenly regain their vigor and form as all of nature rejoices in the reinforcement for one final act before withdrawing as the season transitions.

DRIVE BY COMPASSION

Christmas Streets, Kansas City,MO
Panhandling on the Street, Chicago, IL

It’s the holiday season once again and most folks are generally in a holiday mood. My adult Sunday class recently spent time ringing Salvation Army bells around one of those ubiquitous red kettles that sprout up all around the city at this time of the year. And it was a great way to start the holiday season to once again be part of an effort to facilitate the generous outpouring of my fellow citizens to give a helping hand to those less fortunate. It’s especially gratifying to watch proud parents stand aside while young children joyously place coins in the kettle.

The experience of our class members prompted a discussion last year about not being able to ignore the folks standing on street corners and medians with handmade signs asking for money as we drive by them. Some of them expressed feelings of guilt if they didn’t give the person something. And I suppose we all really have to quickly assess each circumstance to attempt a good decision because unfortunately, many street people are afflicted by addictions or mental illness. In many cases, giving money on the street only enables the person to continue their self-destructive behavior. This situation was amplified recently with the much publicized photo of the New York City police officer buying a pair of socks and boots for a barefoot man on the street. Reporters soon found that the man had a government subsidized apartment in the Bronx and spotted him soon afterwards back on the street walking barefoot and panhandling.

Sad to say, but it would seem that when we’re confronted with these situations, it might just be in the best interest of all to reconsider a direct donation to these people on the street. That “drive by compassion” may provide us with a short term feel good fix, but it doesn’t provide the recipient with any sort of long term quality of life. It just extends their life on the street for another day. Rather, when we’re confronted with this situation, a donation to a local shelter or a low overhead organization like the Salvation Army might be the best use of our hard earned money. These groups can assess situations and provide basic needs of food and shelter and even counseling for constructive change and hope for the future, rather than enabling a hopeless life on the streets which I don’t believe any of us would consciously finance. Loving our fellow man sometimes requires a form of tough love instead of a "drive by compassion" which doesn’t help anyone.

SEVENTY YEAR GIFT

Autumn Rain Shower, Jamestown, NC

On the Occasion of the First Day of my Seventieth Year on the Planet

I spent the entire morning at my church yesterday presenting the message for our annual stewardship campaign. I enjoyed the experience as it really was the culmination of a lifetime occupied with business, family, spirit, and learning. Our team’s message this year is how God’s overflowing blessings of grace have touched our lives to enable us to act as the vessels of clay that can in turn pour out additional blessings to others in need of both material and spiritual nourishment.

I had risen earlier than usual this morning since I had spent all yesterday afternoon outside in my yard celebrating the glorious fall weather and balancing my morning time spent indoors. It wasn’t that I was so anxious to rise early on a Monday as that my body was in a bit of revolt from the excessive physical labor of planting, raking and pruning which I enjoy. Sometimes the best way to cope with life is to simply focus on the task at hand, get a “good kind of tired” night’s sleep and vow to try again tomorrow. I’ve always liked the closing lines of Voltaire’s Candide after he’s been confronted with all the woes of the world. He acknowledges the brokenness, but responds to his mentor Pangloss with the enigmatic precept that “we must now cultivate our garden”.

So, fortunately, I was up and drinking my morning coffee when a lifelong friend called to wish me a Happy Seventieth Birthday! At this point in life, I try to appreciate every present moment on the green side and the occasion of my seventieth birthday had quite frankly escaped me. Life has been relatively good when viewed from the perspective of the reality of the temporary, broken world we inhabit. And I’m still able to acquire my few needs as they arise, so birthday presents aren’t highly anticipated at this stage. I did, however, receive a book gift card from my daughter and son-in-law, quietly delivered by the UPS guy in brown soon after the call, which was nice. I’ll have it redeemed by sundown!

It’s been a dry season for most parts of the country and the small patch of the earth that I tend was showing signs of stress as I toiled in my yard yesterday. I was satisfied with my labors and retired at nightfall, but I’ve learned that no amount of watering from my insignificant little garden hose can ever match a good soaking rainfall. And then at morning’s first light, I heard the slow crescendo of rain drops on my fireplace flue followed by a more rapid and louder rhythm on the deck outside my window. I reflected on past Mondays as I rose and drove to work on a chilly, raw autumn Monday. I reflected then on how beautiful it might be someday to simply sit at home on a Monday morning and enjoy the blessing of raindrops being poured out over the land. And so I savored the priceless gift.