Apr 11 2008
How Great Thou Art
One of my teachers, Sister Agnes Edwina, loved the hymn “How Great Thou Art”. We kids used to sing it on her saint day and the anniversary of her vocation. I liked best the verse about “when I hear the rolling thunder” (or “mighty thunder”, depending on the version).
I enjoy weird weather, even the somewhat dangerous sort like thunder blizzards and seiches. Today was a weird-weather day. The temperature rose to 74 degrees Fahrenheit, with sunny skies and blustery winds. The weather service called a tornado watch from early afternoon until 8 pm.
I had business in Port Huron, so I watched the yellow light in the North with some misgivings until it faded to gray. I don’t know how Lake Huron affects the signs of a tornado. However, in my hometown, I learned very early that when the air grew thick and the light changed from yellow to sickly green, it was time to take cover.
As I arrived home after dinner, the rain began falling as sprinkles, sometimes heavier. A little after 8 o’clock, thunder pealed in the distance. By a quarter to nine, the rain was coming down heavily and the wind picked up. Then hail came. It beat against the roof and set my chimney rattling and banging like nails pouring into pie tin.
Now, at half-past nine, it’s over. Ice pellets no bigger than rabbit droppings litter my deck. The wind has died, the thunder has passed, and the loudest sound is the chirrup of frogs.
