Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: NOISE (05/03/18)
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TITLE: The Truth About Thunder | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gerald Shuler
05/10/18 -
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“Mommy! Daddy!” Jimmy and Jinny shouted in perfect unison. Then they spotted me sitting at the side of the bed. “Daddy!” Both of them rushed to my ready arms, Jimmy to my right side and Jinny to my left. I held them close and could feel their trembling.
“It's alright, kids.” My voice was soft and reassuring. “It's only thunder. There is no need to be afraid.”
Jimmy, the logical twin, justified his reason for being in my arms. “I know that, Daddy. We just thought you might want us to sleep in here tonight.”
“Yeah, we didn't want Mommy getting scared.” Jinny was already becoming a mother hen.
“Let them stay with us for awhile, George.” My wife, Evelyn, was now awake. I knew the children were going to end up between us no matter what I said. So...
“Jump in, kids.” Both of them were almost magically already between us, Jimmy next to me and Jinny safe in her mother's embrace. Another clap of thunder made my next instruction logical. “But only until the thunder is over. Okay?”
There was no agreement from either child. To make it worse, there was only silence from their mother, who I knew would gladly let them stay all night. So the four of us simply spent the next several minutes listening to the thunder play a wonderful symphony. Nobody could sleep although, believe me, I tried. After a particularly intense strike of lightening and it's long, thunderous response the trembling of little bodies could once again be felt.
“It's alright, kids.” I repeated what had calmed them before. “It's only thunder.”
“Daddy?” Jimmy asked. “What is thunder?”
I knew they were too young for the full scientific explanation of thunder being caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. The memories of what my parents had told me might work better. Rip Van Winkle bowling? No. Too far fetched. Angels and Demons fighting a war? Absolutely not. That would scare even me. Then I recalled the ideal thing to say, exactly the way my mother had said it to me so many years ago.
“Thunder is just God's way of talking to us. Most people only hear the thunder but a few special people can hear what God is saying. Moses was like that. The people wanted to hear God speak but all they heard was thunder.”*
My story was followed by a well timed roll of thunder.
“See?” I asked. “Do you hear God talking to you?”
“I sure do.” Jimmy said.
“That's wonderful, Jimmy.” Evelyn was obviously impressed. “That means you are one of God's special people. And so are you, Jinny.”
“I know. I heard what God said, too.”
“Wonderful! What did God say, Jinny?”
“It was the same thing He said to Jimmy.”
“That sounds exactly like how God would do it.” I was sure this was the right way to tell them about thunder. Soon I would get them back in their own beds with both children eagerly listening to the thunder as God spoke to them. “What did God say to you, Jimmy?”
“God said we should sleep in here with you guys tonight.”
(Exodus chapter 19 tells of the time God's voice sounded like thunder to the people.)
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Nicely done.
Blessings~
Blessings~