Meteorologists call them “pop up storms.” It seems the air this summer is especially unsettled in the midwest. Ridges of cold air from the north appear to take up residence in various locations which means storms form a “train” (another weather person metaphor). One after another each “car on the train” dumps its precipitation on the same geography. I thought I had time to get in my hour long walk around the lake watching the updated weather patterns every five minutes on my computer in the Mahseh study. I was wrong. My estimate was off by about seven minutes (one is particular about minutes when an impending deluge is about to drench the area). Metaphors for weather are useful for picturing life. There are times when a pressurized ridge of unstable air hangs for long periods over a person’s time on this earth. One after another the downpours hit. Lightening strikes. Thunder rolls. The power goes out. Flooding destroys property. It’s been like that in the midwest this summer. Sometimes it’s like that in life. Jesus said that in this life we would have trouble. But we are to be of good cheer because He has overcome. John 16:33 should be a headline on the weather page.