Anne Taylor Robertson 10

Natural setting- A Thunderstorm
“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.”- John Muir
When I was little, I loved thunderstorms. They meant summer was near or we were in the middle of it. It was always exciting because they came on in the early evening. If they lasted long enough, we would get to stay up late and watch it from the garage. The creek in the backyard would turn from just the little stream we put applesauce-container boats in; to a raging river, four feet deep in muddy brown water.
Last week, thunderstorms were rolling through the Newport News area. As I was walking to the library, I could hear the thunder begin to roll and crack in the distance, threatening the night but offering an exciting show. I saw the sky light up behind the JR fields in gilded shades of blue. It was multi-dimensional. On a beautiful day when the sky is clear, the sun lights up our world but there is no depth or mystery in it. On this night, however, the clouds billowed and brewed as lightning gave it shape and color. I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on up there- I had always been told that God and the angels were bowling. Maybe we are too old to believe that now, but I know that seeing the life in the sky that night was a reminder of God’s beautiful, limitless power.