Article September 10, 2001 Issue

Could an earthquake ever be good?

By Channing Walker

The California morning was still creeping toward dawn when it felt like one of our then-young children had snuck into our bedroom and started using the foot of our bed as a trampoline. My wife and I were jarred awake. Then, plop, flop, plunk—a tall bookshelf unloaded its contents on us.

We were instantly up. But there was no kid jumping on the bed. Instead, the whole house was shuddering. Bonk! A slim paperback bounced around our heads.

An expert once advised me, if an earthquake strikes while you're in bed, stay there. He obviously didn't have kids. In a flash, we ignored the advice and dashed—OK, lurched, an earthquake was in progress—toward our kids' bedrooms so they'd stay put. My whole thought was to reach the one in the top bunk before he went airborne.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Can you trust God to guide you?