It's getting stormy out there

There are long streaks of rain on the windows that glow white in the flash of lightning outside.
It sounds peaceful to hear the drum of water on the roof and the smell of it in the cold air.
I really couldn't stand the idea of missing church today so I woke up early and went with my dad, Mr. Trivia (he knows everything) and then stayed home with the girls while the Artist went this afternoon.
Noses are red and drippier than the rain and fevers are still spiking over here so it was nice to leave the land of the invalids and walk among the living for a while.
The weather tonight made me think of my favorite picture of the Savior.
There are several paintings of gospel subjects that I am lukewarm on, at best.
I don't like any pictures where people glow or roses bloom on trellises. Just not my thing.
But this picture is very real and personal to me.


It is called "Against the Wind" by Liz Lemon Swindle. When I have five hundred dollars sitting around I will purchase it.
After the Savior (that is a give-in), my favorite person in the scriptures is Peter. If we had a son I was voting for Peter as a name.
Peter was passionate and brave. Peter took correction. Peter loved with all his heart.
Peter walked on water.
Right on top of it. Straight to the Lord in the middle of a storm. Peter had the faith to put his hand on the side of that weathered boat and step down into the waves.
Everyone remembers Peter sinking down.
I remember Peter stepping out.
It was only the threatening waves and the flashing lightning and the chaos of the storm that broke his courage.
Just like us.
We step out in life. We start walking. We are brave. We are determined. And then we look down.
We realize that we are in this world. This world where people die of starvation and children are murdered and men strap bombs to their bodies and walk to crowded markets. We live in this world where saying anything is wrong makes us bigoted and hateful and small minded. We are right smack in the middle of a globe churning with violence and sin and cruelty and suffering. Sometimes I look down at the wild waves around me and I falter.
I wonder how I will ever make it out of here alive. (that's funny. I guess no one makes it out of life alive, do they? I was speaking metaphorically.)
But there is a safety net.
Peter was walking to the Savior.
He was getting closer with every step.
So when he needed help, the Savior could reach out and save him.
If we are walking with faith to the Savior, we are stepping on top of the waters of this world.
We are doing something great.
We are getting closer.
And when we start to sink (because Peter showed that the best of us do) we will be near enough to receive his help.
And that is the true miracle.