"Bah !! God !! There is no such thing as God. If God exists then why is there so much suffering, poverty and diseases? Why do people die off hunger ? If god loves his men then why doesn't he take care of them ? " Steve Bolton barked.
" But God does exist and he comes to the rescue of those who truly call for Him. If not then how do miracles happen ? " retorted his wife Jenna Bolton.
" I've never seen any miracles."
" One day you will . God will make sure you do." Jenna assured him.
"That day will never come."
At 45, Steve Bolton was what we call a 'failure'. A clerk by profession and photographer by passion, Steve's ambition in life had been to make it big as a photographer, specializing in natural calamities and disasters. He had spent half his life chasing cyclones, riding Tsunami waves and getting blown by hurricanes. But, the tragedy of his life was that no one ever appreciated his work, not that his work was worth appreciating. So he had spent the other half of his life getting kicked from offices of publishers who found his work ' extremely ordinary'.
His failures had caused him to lose faith in God, his explanation being-"If God exists then why doesn't he help me ? Does God exist only to help the rich and famous ? To make the rich, even more richer and the poor, even more poorer ?
Jenna had disagreed. Her faith in God was immovable.
"Some day", she would say ." Some day God will help us. I know that. He will. "
Steve, as usual, had dismissed the idea...
*****
"...the tornado is expected to hit South-Eastern Houston at around 4:30 in the evening.The tornado is reportedly a result of the massive meso-cyclone developing over The Gulf Of Mexico.It is predicted to be one of the largest and strongest to hit the state in the recent past with a reading of F5 on the Fujita scale.Citizens are advised to stay indoors, preferably in basements. Driving in these conditions can be dangerous. Citizens must ..."
Steve listened to the news reporter intently. Excitement flooded through him like a fresh stream of water flowing on a parched land. Jenna could see in his eyes, what he was going to do . She could almost feel the excitement reverberating from him. It was like watching 3-year old wait for his favourite ice-cream.
"This is my chance. My GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY !!" He recited to himself. He had to get it right. "I'll plan it carefully, meticulously. There will be no mistakes. I can't afford any mistakes, not this time." And so he planned everything to the last detail.If everything went according to the plan this could well be his shot to fame.
So he packed his paraphernalia, threw them in his old and battered car and hopped in, to go in search of the monster. Jenna tried to explain to him how dangerous it would be to drive in this weather. But she knew it would be of no avail. Now there was only one thing for her to do...pray. And that she did, with all her faith.
" God be with you. ", she whispered as he kissed her goodbye.
Steve rolled his eyes...
*****
He had been driving for two hours, circling the area where it was predicted the monster would strike first. He had chosen his spot well. It was a secluded farming establishment, with vast open fields and few buildings, ideal for clicking some breathtaking photographs... But now it was over. "The tornado might have dissipated or changed course", he thought. Cursing the National Weather Service for ruining his chance, he decided to return home.
Damn !! They blew my golden opportunity !!!
And then..........He saw it.........
MASSIVE ... was an understatement for the tornado. It was a gigantic swirl of dust and debris reaching up in the sky as far as he could see; sucking up anything that came in its path-cars, trees, animals, humans, buildings...occasionally throwing debris several feet into the air, as if the monster did not like the taste of the stuff and just decided to spit them out.
Steve watched with awe and excitement. It was like nothing he had seen before.
But, as it came nearer, a new feeling overtook him, horror.
His brain was screaming at him to pick up his car and flee. His heart, on the other hand, demanded he pick up his camera and click some of the most sensational shots mankind has ever seen. His hands and legs obeyed neither...
It was as though someone had suddenly amputated his limbs.Rooted to the spot, he watched in horror the monster come near, ever so nearer...
And then, as though somebody had lifted the spell off him, he came back to his senses, picked up his camera, clicked a few random shots and ran for his car. Mercifully, the old car started immediately as if sensing the urgency of the situation, sprang to life and raced away from the monster as Steve pressed the accelerator to the ground.
But, the monster was catching up, fast. Steve knew he had no chance, knew it would all be over...in a few seconds; When the monsters many tongues would come waging at him and suck him into its twirling stomach.
He thought of his family, his wife and his children and remembered he had never told them how much he loved them. He remembered his mother and it occurred to him that he had never thanked her enough.
All the memories came flooding back to him. And then his wife's face swam before his eyes. He could hear her say something...
"God does exist and he comes to the rescue of those who truly call for Him"And in that moment of realisation he understood what she meant. He knew she had been right, all along. Without knowing what he was doing, he stopped the car and screamed with all his might..."GOD !!! HAVE MERCY !! "
Then it happened. The monster, changing its mind, took a sharp turn around and headed in he direction it came from. As though the reins of the monster were in gods hands and the master had ordered it to leave Steve alone and miraculously the monster had obeyed.
Steve got out of the car and saw the twister retreating and finally, dissipating. Relief washed over him. And then in his new found enlightenment, Steve Bolton, the atheist, fell to his knees, folded his hands and...........prayed..........
*****
Sometimes God Has Strange Ways Of Making His Presence Felt....
