Storm And Peace

for Anne The air is cool after a morning thunderstorm. For thirty minutes huge sheets of rain slammed down on house and yard. Then rain changed to hailstones which pummeled the roof and drowned out even thinking in my mind. But the fury of nature was soon spent, just a few more big drops fell, rolled down the side of the porch and disappeared into the ground. Nature had completed her mission to dispel yesterday's heat and bring us relief. Still for the duration of the storm, I wondered, Had I done something wrong to deserve this fury from the sky? And I cowered in a corner of the room until it was spent. I went to the porch and saw the sky had cleared, its pale blue expanse restored, its yellow light descending over me like a benediction from above. There was nothing now to fear, and nothing pointed to me as a guilty creature. Peace now reigned over all the region spread before me and within my soul an even greater calm ascended. I am free to rejoice.