Vacumn Monster

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)

There is only one thing Lucy is afraid of more than thunder and lightening. The Dreaded Vacuum Monster. Come to think of it, the vacuum has a lot in common with thunder and lightening. They both make really loud noises and the vacuum cleaner even has a light on it. The vacuum comes with a rushing wind almost like a tornado. And it moves! When I get out the vacuum cleaner, she reacts just like she does to a storm, but because it is inside the house, there is no escaping it. She runs, but she cannot hide. Eventually, she makes her way upstairs hoping the monster will not follow her up there. Even after I turn the machine off, a long time goes by before she will come back down. If I leave it out and do not put it away in the closet, she will not walk past it. If it is not safe and secure in its cave, she cannot rest. Right now, it is in the kitchen doorway where husband left it after our cleaning frenzy yesterday. If she is in the kitchen, I have to open the back door, let her cross the porch and come in the sliding door. Even then, she completely crosses to the other side of the room and creeps behind furniture trying to hide from it. She would not eat her dinner until I moved it to where the monster could not see her. Once she is as far away from it as she can get, she lies still and trembling for a time. I guess I will go put it away. I was being stubborn because husband did not clean out the container and walked away leaving the mess for me to clean up. I hoped to holdout until he got tired of walking around it. But, I think Lucy will have a nervous breakdown before that happens. Her fear made me think of the disciples in this story about Jesus. There they were in the middle of a lake with the wind and waves crashing around them. No where to go to get away from it. If you have ever been in a storm at sea, you know the feeling that death is imminent. When they complained to Jesus, He stopped the storm, just like when I reach over and flip the switch on the vacuum cleaner. I imagine that the silence must have been impressive after what was happening around them just seconds before. Even though they had been following Jesus and listening to His teachings for months, they still didn’t get Who He was. It was news to them that he could command the wind and the water. Lucy is sure that the vacuum cleaner is out to get her. I’ll go move it and calm her nerves. Jesus will do the same for me when I get into scary situations. I just have to have the faith that He has the power to do so.