“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
— Ps. 46:1
Normally, Scout is a pretty saucy little dog — tough and fearless and funny — but storms seem to unnerve her, so when thunderclouds moved through our area late one night last week, Scout’s first order of business was to jump up on the bed, burrow under the covers, and snuggle up next to me until she felt safe.
I didn’t think about it at the time, but it occurred to me this evening that I could learn a lot from Scout.
When a storm is howling around her, Scout doesn’t waste time barking at it or whining about it or trying to make it go away on her own. She just runs straight to Mommy, who makes her feel loved and safe until the storm blows over.
Shouldn’t that be my first response, too? How many times, when the storms of material sense were raging all around me, have I tried to get rid of them by snarling and putting up my hackles, or by whining about them, or by taking some other ridiculous action that didn’t do anything to change the situation, when all I really needed to do was run straight to the Father for protection?
Emily
Red Fork Hippie 
Very well said, Emily.
And King David said it also in very many different ways. Here’s an example (Psalms 46:1-3)
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Peace, http://www.lavrai.com/blogs
Maybe this is off the point I know you were trying to make, but here goes:
Geoff read an article last week that said the reason dogs act so bizarre during storms is because they’re covered in fur, and with the lightning outside, there’s a lot more static electricity in the air. The article said if you are going to pet and calm your dog during a storm anyway, pet them with a dryer fabric softener sheet, and it will lessen the effect the static is having on all the zillions of hairs on their body and at least make them more comfortable, if not less afraid.
Just thought that was interesting and thought I would pass it on. š
what? oh yes! i do have a connection with God! why do i forget that?? crazy.
i have let my prayer life slip away and it makes me sad. i can’t seem to get the habit of it back and that has been, for me, the first step. i wrote about it a while back. still struggling.
http://bigassbelle.blogspot.com/2008/03/gods-golden-spotlight.html
I once forgot to talk to God for the better end of six years. I got mad about something that hadn’t gone well, and I just sort of quit speaking to Him for a while. By the time I got over it, I’d just sort of forgotten how to pray … and I was battling depression, which added a layer of “why bother?” to the mix.
When I’m not quite sure how to pray, I just sit still and listen. “Be still and know” is a pretty good prayer, really.