Storm

“How long have I been in this storm?” The words wavered and echoed across the surface of the lake. “So overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form…. Water's getting harder to tread, with these waves crashing over my head….” 1

The clouds above were thick and gray, blocking out the sun. The water of Lake Michigan looked black and cold, and even dangerous. 2

The young woman on the shore fingered the small crucifix that circled her neck and swallowed painfully. Her eyes stung with tears; she had been crying since before the sky had darkened.3

“If I could just see you, everything would be alright. If I'd see you, this darkness would turn to light,” she sang on, her voice still a whisper.4

A beam of sunlight forced its way through the menacing blanket of clouds and struck the water, making it sparkle brilliantly. The shaft of light stood out clearly against the dark, hostile waters, and the young woman looked up at the gap from which it came.5

Her mother had always called light like this “God’s Grace,” a way for Him to show that there was always hope in despair. Her mother… her mother was gone. There was nothing left for the young woman now, nothing but sadness and deep, unending hurt.6

“And I will walk on water,” she whispered. “And you will catch me if I fall.”7

The young woman stood from her spot on the water’s edge and walked slowly into the cold depths. The Grace grew smaller as she watched, and she felt something being crushed within her. Her hand rose before her, begging the Grace to stay, to wait.8

Another well of tears sprang up. “And I will get lost into your eyes”—a sob—“I know everything will be alright… I know everything is alright.”9

The Grace disappeared. For a moment, the woman stared at its former place—too numb to do anything. Then, with another sob, she fell into the water on her knees. She cried, letting her salty tears fall into the black water of the lake.10

“I know you didn’t bring me out here to drown,” she wept. “So why am I ten feet under and upside down? Barely surviving has become my purpose, ‘cause I’m so used to livin’ underneath the surface….”11

She was alone. Her mother had abandoned her when she’d died, leaving her no family and no hope. And now, it looked as though even God had abandoned her. Was there nothing for her to live for?12

Perhaps not, she thought dimly. She was growing cold from being so wet; Lake Michigan’s water was lapping up at her, icy and uninvitingly dark.13

The young woman lifted her head to the sky, tears still streaming down her face. “If I could just see you, everything would be alright. If I’d see you, this darkness would turn to light.”14

To her utter shock, another stream of Grace sprung from the clouds. She pushed herself up out of the water and made herself stand, gazing with amazement upon the light before her.15

She heard a voice behind her. “And I will walk on water,” it sang. It was a beautiful voice, so pure and lovely, it could not have belonged to a human being.16

For a reason she could not place, she knew she had to continue. “And you will catch me if I fall,” she whispered, turning.17

A man in white robes stood on the water behind her. He had tears in his eyes, and holes in his hands and feet. The girl knew who he was. 18

“And I will get lost into your eyes,” the girl continued, “I know everything will be alright.”19

More voices, unearthly in sound, joined the two that stood in the lake. 20

“And I will walk on water, and you will catch me if I fall. And I will get lost into your eyes… I know everything will be alright.”21

Another person appeared beside the man in white. Though the girl had never seen this woman, nor one so beautiful, she also knew who this person was.22

The lady reached out and touched the young woman’s cheek, smiling gently. She too had tears in her eyes. As the lady’s hand touched the girl’s face, she could smell roses—sweet roses unlike any she had smelled before.23

“Everything’s alright,” whispered the beautiful lady. In an instant, she was gone.24

The girl gazed at the man in white for a moment before he came nearer to her. She stood where she was, too afraid to move. He stared into her eyes, and her fear melted away.25

His hand lifted before her, and she placed her own small hand against it. It was warm and comforting.26

“Everything’s alright,” he told her softly. 27

The girl nodded, unable to speak.28

Her Savior faded from sight, leaving the girl still holding her hand up in the air. Suddenly, she felt heat on her back; when she turned around, she realized that a shaft of Grace was shining down upon her.29

The clouds, thick before, began to dissipate and disappear. The Grace slowly grew until it filled the entire sky above the lake, and the world seemed covered in sunlight.30

The girl again fingered the crucifix around her neck. She knew that God had not abandoned her, and she believed that she would someday see her mother again. But until then, she would simply have to live in God’s Grace.31