Psalm 33:11-12
Fifty years ago this coming Saturday will be the anniversary of the Palm Sunday tornadoes that swept through the Midwest. Locally, two tornadoes forty-five minutes apart hit the Devil's Lake area doing extensive damage to homes and out buildings as well as leaving a death toll of eleven people. At that time there wasn't the warning system there is now so people were not prepared for the devastation that took place. Recently we heard a gentleman by the name of Don Cherry speak at the historical museum about the tornadoes and the book he has written regarding the Palm Sunday disaster at Devil's Lake.
At that time, Paul was single and living west of Adrian on Beecher Road with his parents. He was finishing his senior year at Adrian College. On that Sunday his brother and finance were on their way to Jackson after spending Palm Sunday with the family. After they left the weather turned very windy with lots of rain. We had no idea what was transpiring just a few miles from the house. Meanwhile, Paul's brother was heading directly into the tornado. However, when he reached Rome Center they decided to take a different way to Jackson and went towards Onsted of heading directly to Devil's Lake. A few miles down Onsted Highway the wind from the tornado was so strong that it picked up Paul's brother's car and dropped it in the ditch and at the same time sucking out the rear window. Fortunately neither of them were injured and after a period of time a farmer came by on a tractor and pulled them out of the ditch. During this time neither Paul nor his parents had any idea what had transpired. All of a sudden they heard a car pull in the driveway and his brother came running in the house exclaiming that Devil's Lake had been hit by a tornado and they also had been thrown in the ditch. We had no realization of the devastation that took place that evening.
The very next day Gail had an opportunity through her job to accompany the Adrian City Engineer in a flight over the Devil's Lake area. She could not believe the wide area of destruction with trees and homes flattened. It was hardly recognizable.
Seeing this made her realize how temporary things can be. Within the blink of an eye all that man holds dear can be destroyed. But, in God's Word we realize that His plans stand forever. It speaks in Scripture that we are to store up our treasures in heaven where it will not be destroyed because things here on earth are temporary but things in heaven are eternal.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
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