Eye of the Storm

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)

I had to turn off the weather channel today. I was up to my elbows in cake mix when I realized what it was doing to me. When a storm is lurking, I go into baking mode. I predict that should I ever die in a hurricane, it will not be from a tree falling on my house or the roof caving in. It will be from a diabetic coma. When a hurricane threatens, I get this compulsion to make sweets. It is almost uncontrollable, like being nine months pregnant and going into nesting mode. Instead of sweeping and organizing the linen closet, I pull out pots and pans and go to work. This afternoon, I made two cakes and two dozen cupcakes. I frosted them with five batches of butter cream frosting. I made a huge pot of chicken and yellow rice to have a little protein to balance out all that sugar, but I mostly baked. Then, I had to go around the neighborhood doling out all the goodies. Even though I could have sat down and ate it all until I made myself sick. I blame it all on the weather channel. With the constant reporting and hype, I kept thinking about all those people in New Orleans. And in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Then, I transposed it all upon my side of the Gulf. Except for a mass of high pressure, it could just as well be us. The weather people kept showing the eye of the storm. It grew larger and larger every frame. I could not take my eyes off it. Finally, I pried myself away from the television and put an instrumental CD of hymns in the stereo. Just like I used the remote to switch channels, I deliberately chose to change my focus. In a less frenzied atmosphere, I thought about the eye of the storm and the stillness of the wind within it. I was reminded of this verse. I like this King James Version the best because I grew up with it. I love how it says if we keep our mind “stayed” on God, He will give us perfect peace. The phrase Lord Jehovah here is a superlative because both words mean Lord. The Blue Letter Bible website says, “Jehovah is translated as “The Existing One” or “Lord.” The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known” — this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly.” Think about that, “A God Who reveals Himself unceasingly. “ A God who not only is Lord of all, but Who wants to be Lord of me and reveal Himself to me. So, I stopped my running around like Chicken Little whose sky is falling in and I rested in the truth of that statement. My neighbors liked the cake. I was just glad for the calm in the midst of the storm.