Flashlight Batteries
We face an impending Tornado...
Posted on April 24, 2011 in Ruminations
We were under a tornado watch this evening. The skies grew dark and ominous, the always busy Texas wind stilled to a deathly calm and nothing was heard but the warning sirens in the distance. It was the calm before the storm.
The younger kids ran around apprehensively excited, asking questions about Tornados, where to go to be safe, what would happen and when it would hit. The older kids got on the computer and tracked the impending weather, running out every couple of minutes with updates. As it grew closer and closer to our home we decided to play it safe and unplug all of our electronics, make sure everyone was ready to move to our safest room and started getting out the things that we would need in case power went out. Candles we found, matches were no problem and flashlights were plentiful. However, the flashlights all had dead batteries.
Of course, fulfilling my role as the grumpy dad, I let everyone know that if they had listed to me and not played with the flashlights when we didn’t need them then surely we would have working flashlight batteries when we did need them. Even as I was coming down on them with my “I told you so” I was chaffing inside and telling myself, “Stop, this doesn’t need to be said.”
The storm passed north of us and we were safe. As I was sitting around later I started to reflect on the night, our lack of batteries for the flashlights and how I had handled the situation. I was reminded of the following scripture passage from Matthew 25…
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
My frustration as a Father without flashlight batteries has subsided. I guess if that’s the only mistake my kids make we’re doing okay. I pray and hope however that the Eternal Father is more patient than I. I pray and hope that I am ready with my lamp oiled and prepared for the Bridegroom who shall come when I am least expecting it.
