“And Rides Upon the Storm”

On February 5, a tornado touched down right on top of the dormitories at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Although 80% of the dormitories were either destroyed or severely damaged, by God’s mercy 1,200 on-campus students survived. Not one student died. Union is a special place to me, so I decided to write up this month’s “Truth in Art” column for both MetroVoice readers and friends from Union. It is a little more personal than normal columns, but I hope that you enjoy it and profit from it.

As I looked at aerial shots of tornado-ravaged Union University this week, memories of my own time spent at Union came to mind. With my sons alongside me at the computer, I pointed out the women’s commons where I first met their mom. From what I can tell in the pictures, that building is now a pile of rubble. I can also see the window of the dorm room Tim Ellsworth and I shared, staying up late at night talking theology and Cardinals’ baseball. Or, the room I shared with Andy Neely, soaking up his love for teaching teens the Word of God. Union gave me a lot in terms of mind, spirit, and friendship.

Alma mater means “nourishing mother.” That is an apt description for an institution like Union, comprised of faculty, staff, and administration who sheltered refugee-students in their own homes this week.

Thinking of little else other than Union since Tuesday night, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for His mercy in sparing the lives of every student, including a nephew and children of friends. There is comfort in the Christian understanding of natural-disaster wrought death, but praise God for His mercy in keeping us from having that conversation this time around.

Tornado Over Kansas, painted by 20th century Kansas artist John Steuart Curry provides a framework for talking about the events of this week. Curry repeatedly painted human frailty in the face of natural disasters. Produced in 1929 just before the Great Depression, this painting came at a time of great hope in the progress of modern technology to make life safer and more comfortable.

However, this rural family knows little of modern technology. There is no electricity, phones, automobiles, or paved roads. No tornado sirens or sophisticated radar to give them advanced warning of dangerous weather. But consider that even with all the modern technology in 2008, over fifty people still lost their lives to the storms this week. Technology is no ultimate savior.

Physical strength and courage play a vital role in times of emergency. Curry paints a muscular father, tanned from long hours of hard labor in the sun. But even the father knows when to fight and when to retreat. His muscles are used in service of pulling his family into the safety of the underground shelter.

The scripture says of God - “He is not impressed by the strength of a horse; He does not value the power of a man. The Lord values those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His faithful love.” (Psalm 147:10-11)

And it follows that we are to pattern our thinking likewise - “Some take pride in a chariot, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 26:7)

Having a tornado bearing down on top of you, one is more inclined to be humble and believe in the frailty of mankind. Would that we could always have that perspective, even in times of safety.

It is apparent that the family had little time to prepare. The children grab the family pets, but the horses are left out in the field. The mother is practical, carrying in a blanket even as she clings to nothing else but her infant. The family’s survival depends on getting into the shelter before the twister blows the farm away.

There is only one character who stands unfazed by the danger – a chicken! Exhibiting mindless bravado in the face of foul weather, she calmly oversees the emergency descent into the hole.

So, what is the chicken doing in the painting? Is Curry just adding one last touch of realistic detail? Perhaps. On the other hand, artists have always loved to stick birds into their paintings as a representation of spiritual concerns. They stand in symbolic contrast to the concerns of the material world. With all the family’s material world getting ready to be blown away by a material world tornado, what will remain?

When fourteen dormitories and the personal belongings of 1,200 students are blown into the air and across the county, what remains behind?

Certainly we mourn with those who mourn. Union students have lost a lot this week, and I hope we will promptly send in some financial help. However, it has been inspiring to hear the witness of so many students who obviously hold loose the material things of this world.

Often melancholy, hymnist William Cowper gave the Church a great gift when he penned these words:

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread;

Are big with mercy and shall break, in blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

I am praying for Union students and faculty to have renewed courage, and for God’s blessings to be on their heads. I am praying that God’s smiling face, hidden to the eyes of the world who can only see destroyed campus buildings, would be displayed through the Christian courage and hope of those who rebuild Union.

And, I am praying that countless numbers of Union students will live their life with passion for building God’s Kingdom, meditating regularly on the fact that God spared their life that night. I can’t wait to see how the “One who rides upon the storm” is going to once again raise up Union – buildings and people – for great things in His Kingdom.

A final note; Union suffered over $40 million in damages to buildings, and students lost millions of dollars worth of personal possessions, automobiles, clothing, books, etc. If you would like to make a contribution, large or small, to help either the university or the student body, please go to www.uu.edu/Union2010/giving/creditcard.cfm - thank you!

W. Scott Lamb is a pastor with Providence Baptist Church in South St. Louis County, MO. He and his wife Pearl enjoy the challenges and pleasures of raising their four sons. Feel free to contact Scott at www.truthinartblog.com.