Tornado Hunters Roam The Plains

Their job is mostly total boredom, followed by occasional moments of pure excitement and terror.

They are storm chasers and they are out in force for the current tornado season.

Vortex2 is traveling across the Great Plains until June 13 in search of nature’s most violent storms. It is part of the largest-ever project to seek the storms that arise so suddenly and destroy so completely. The massive convoy is comprised of 40 vehicles carrying some 80 scientists and crew members. Their goal is simple. They hope to learn more about the 1,000 tornadoes that occur annually in the U.S. and thereby increase the current warning time given those in their devastating path.

The very thought of looking for trouble, especially the life-threatening sort, is not something the average person can even relate to. Life brings enough difficulties without intentionally seeking more. But trouble does find all at some point – and some more than others. The Old Testament figure Job, who experienced more hardship than most, wrote about this universal truth in chapter 5 of his book. He states in verse 7, “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”

Peter also confirms the certainty of trouble and includes the source of a great deal of it. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) And even Jesus himself shared how trials and troubles need not be sought out but will come with some regularity. In Matthew 6:34 He stated, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” In a fallen and sinful world trouble is ‘standard equipment’. Ask anyone!

The goal of the Vortex2 storm chasers is to seek out storms and help prepare residents for the onslaught of something physically and materially dangerous and life-threatening. But it would be interesting to know if any in that worthwhile line of work ever realize any of the spiritual comparisons and ramifications of what they do?

For instance, the Old Testament prophet wrote, “The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” (Nahum 1:3) And it would be interesting to know if any ever associate the chasing the illusive storms with Jesus’ description of the Christian believer? In John 3:7-8 the Lord declared, “Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

But most importantly, hopefully those who chase after storms, and those often targeted by them, will make the same association as did David in Psalm 83. Hopefully the power and majesty of these great funnels of terror will act as a vivid reminder that life is fragile, that there is an omnipotent Creator who controls the universe, and that He is worthy of worship and is the author of the salvation for the repentant sinner.

“O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like the chaff before the wind! As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire, So pursue them with Your tempest, And frighten them with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O LORD.” (Ps 83:13-16)

Bill Breckenridge