Storms: Literal and Figurative

I’m sitting on my couch, in my apartment on the third floor of this building, in Slidell, LA, as Hurricane Isaac is barreling towards us. I’ve lived in in Louisiana most of my life, and these intense storms are nothing new to me. If I’m honest, I’m not really even that worried about the storm. Like any good Louisianan, I’ve already got my hurricane preparedness kit ready and stocked up on a week’s worth of peanut butter and jelly. I stopped by RedBox and rented a few movies to watch while we still have electricity, and picked out a book to read if we lose electricity.

Pardon this clichéd shift from the discussion of literal, meteorological storms to one on the figurative storms we encounter in life.

As discussed last week, life is filled with obstacles. The college years are also filled with new experiences. 

The first time you’ve ever had to do laundry on a consistent basis.

The first time you’ve ever had to cook your own meals (or at least choose the microwaveable pizzas you will eat for the next week).

The first time you have your own responsibilities.

For an increasing number, the first time you’ve had to work to support yourself.

And eventually, the first time you have to weather a storm of life without the shelter and comfort of home.

I can remember the first hurricane I ever experienced. My family actually evacuated, but for some reason we got a late start. By the time we got on the road, bands of intense rain were already making landfall. I remember freaking out in the back seat because the rain was so heavy it was impossible to see anything more than a few feet outside the window. My dad probably wasn’t driving very fast at all, but it felt like we were barreling towards then end of a cliff just out of sight and that at any moment the bottom would drop out and it would be over.

It was terrifying.

That’s a lot like what the first real storm of life can feel like. Whether it’s the accumulation of the little stresses of being out on your own or the big bombshells like finding out that your parents are getting a divorce, life can feel directionless, like you’re hurling towards oblivion.

Terrifying.

 One of the reasons I’m passionate about college ministry is the opportunity to help guide students through those storms.

Eventually, through the pouring rain, my dad was able to find a car up ahead and we were able to follow the headlights until the storm passed.

I see the job of a collegiate minister to be a lot like that. To be there in the storm of life with these students, just ahead, guiding them through the storm.