hailed

the looming forecast of snow for friday reminds me of the intense, swift-moving hailstorm i drove into on my way home last week.  i was a few miles from our development when it suddenly went dark overhead, flashes of lightning illuminating the sky, turning it odd shades of pink, blue, and purple.  then the thunder came.  it clapped so loudly that my breath caught in my throat and i held it in anticipation.  rain started pouring down in fury, banging against my car like rocks until i realized they were actually hailstones.

what i recall about this moment was the feeling of pure and utter dread.  the slapping thunder and blinding lightning were practically in unison, causing me to feel the closeness of danger and the illogical fear of being struck.  it was then that i thought there are much bigger forces at work here, bigger than me, my car, the road, the sky.  the only thing that could make me feel an emotion somewhere between frightened and awe-struck is an inexplicable power from beyond.

true power is not manifested until it is recognized.