Pyroclastic Flows

Have you ever seen pictures of a pyroclastic flow from a volcanic eruption? Google defines them as,

"Fast-moving extremely hot avalanches of gas, ash, and rock that race down volcanic slopes... These deadly currents can reach speeds exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph) and temperatures of 700 degrees Celsius (1,300 degrees Fahrenheit) , incinerating and destroying everything in their path..."

Not long ago, I was praying over some things going on in my life that were stressing me out. In response, God showed me something which got my immediate attention. And then He showed it to me again, nearly exactly as before. In both visions, I was driving in a vehicle. In the first vision, I turned my head to look behind me out the back window and saw grey clouds boiling. They were thick and dirty, much thicker than normal storm clouds. In the second vision, I had turned my head to the left to look behind me out my driver's side window. It was the same clouds as before. Dirty. Grey. Boiling. It was a pyroclastic flow, and it was close. I think at this point I probably had the accelerator pedal to the floor. These visions were part of a theme in God's dealings with me. They followed a vivid dream a couple of months ago with the same message. "This is what is coming behind you. Make haste!"

My life is chaos right now. Work stress, moving stress, financial stress, and an unexpected family crisis have forced me to drop out of most of my normal life activities. It's why I haven't blogged in over a month. I'm keeping ahead of the shockwave-- but just barely. But last night I came across a meme of a vehicle trying to outrun a pyroclastic flow. The original picture was taken by photojournalist Albert Garcia of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. These were exactly the type of clouds I saw, so I felt it was time to share.

Were the visions for me personally, reassurance that I was going to make it? Were they intended to spur me on to maximum effort? Were they a warning for others? Is there someone else in my circle that is staring at the swift approach of an inescapable storm? Odds are. A few days ago, I opened to 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, and it moved me. Here it is, quoted from The Message:

"Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,

'I heard you call in the nick of time; the day you needed me, I was there to help.'

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated-- or not-- in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised and when we're blamed; slandered and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all."

Maybe you are running before such a storm. God's peace and protection be upon you.

If you enjoyed reading this, check out my book "101 God Thoughts," available on Amazon.

Original photograph by Albert Garcia of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.