Shake shake shake.

There was a 6.1 Earthquake this evening, well by the time this post publishes it will have been several evenings ago.

My thoughts on experiencing an Earthquake from the 4th floor of a building:

Woah! Another earthquake!
Ooooookay, it's been 10 seconds, why is the building still shaking?  Why is it getting stronger?
Alright, I think I might die today.
Okay.

I should mention, the other day I had a dream that there was an incredibly strong Earthquake while I was in a building and the building fell over.  The dream ended with me falling towards the street from 50 feet up in the air.  In my dream, though, I felt like even if I fell, it would be okay.  I ended the dream knowing I would wake up and be okay, even if I hit the ground, and then, right before I hit the ground in the dream I woke up.  And I was okay.

I don't have a death wish, please don't read this and think that.  It's not the truth.  But as clearly as I knew I would be okay in my dream, I knew today, during this earthquake, that I would be okay.  Even if I fell and hit the ground, I would wake up and everything would be okay.

That said, some notes on what an earthquake like that feels like:

When the walls start shaking I can always hear it before I feel it.  Then, when the building sways back and forth it feels like I've climbed to the top of a tall tree and the wind is blowing really hard.  After that feeling passes I get dizzy and I can't tell if the earthquake has ended or not, because I sort of get my quake legs (think sea legs).

Now, some notes on what an earthquake like that makes me think about:

The earth cries out.
The next big, or for many people, the last big earthquake could happen at any time.  How have they prepared?  How have they been prepared?
There will be earthquakes in various places.

I don't believe in predicting the return of Christ (he'll come back like a thief in the night, y'all) and I don't even like talking about the end times, because I don't believe that was the focus of the ministry of Christ, but it's hard not to think about it when you can feel the Earth shaking so violently, as though it was sick of being in the shape it's currently in.  As though even the very ground itself was sick and expressing it's need for the savior.

Again, I'm not trying to sound foolish or like I seek death or anything, but you gotta admit:

That's pretty cool. 

And if you don't think it sounds so cool (mom), then think about this - love transforms the way we think.  Earthquakes remind me of love and of God's love for us and his desire for us to know him, because even if we don't show him love, even if we don't glorify his name, for God's sake (literally) the Earth will!