Lightning

Aunt Marion Says...

I believe that God created thunder to scare the pants off us so we’d take lightning seriously. When those loud crashes echo in the heavens, kids and animals know trouble’s coming. They’re smarter than many adults.

Lightning ain’t nothing to play around with. Most people know that, but you’d be surprised at how many folks think they can ignore that bit of wisdom.

I’ve watched people climb to the top of the dune to watch lightning strikes out over the ocean. Keep in mind—when they’re up there, they’re the tallest thing around. I’ll admit the view of the heavens during a storm is magnificent, but they don’t realize how close they are to experiencing heaven firsthand.

I ought to know. I almost got struck once.

You might ask what almost struck even means—and I get it. I was standing on a wooden platform by the dock. Now that might sound foolish, but the storm caught me off guard while I was out in my boat. Naturally, I hightailed it back to port. There was a wooden platform next to the dock, so I wouldn’t have to stand in the puddles that always gathered there. I was tying up as fast as I could when lightning struck a pole about a hundred yards away.

That buzz shot through me like lightning. That makes sense ‘cause it was lightning. It felt like my fingernails were about to pop clean off.

And let me tell you, I never did finish tying off that boat. I don’t even think my feet touched the ground as I dove into my car. Can’t say I’d be around today if I was standing in that puddle instead of up on those boards.

I’ve had curly hair ever since. (That’s not true, but everything else is.)

Take it from someone who's been there:

When you see a storm rolling in, find the nearest shelter and hunker down.

Unless, of course, you’re planning to meet Jesus face to face.

If you want to know who Aunt Marion is, visit my first blog post here.

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