Jason Silver

Monday, June 23rd, 2025

Wild Storm!

Saturday night at 2 a.m. we had a violent storm that ripped through our area. One of the big beautiful black walnut trees in our backyard split like a banana peel, right down the middle, with limbs falling across our back deck onto the neighbours fence on the south side, into the hen house on the east side, and onto our camper parked on the north side!

Here's a video of the next morning!

My in-laws were sleeping in that camper as the lightning and rain began crashing around us, and once we heard the terrible crack of the tree, we urged them to escape the camper before the tree fell completely on it.

(Fortunately, everyone was fine).

Over the next 20 minutes, we watched the tree succumb to its massive split. The first part fell near the coop (the hens got wet, but are fine), the second part onto the deck (and smashed our two picnic tables there and badly bent the neighbour's fence), and as the third gave way over the camper, my wife prayed: God, please don't let the camper be destroyed! I was praying under my breath as well.

Before our eyes, it was as if the tree halted in its fall and moved into slow motion. It was like it slowed down, laying itself gently onto the camper. I look back now, and imagine an angel underneath it all, smiling at us and saying, "I've got this."

About 8 friends from church came over to the house Sunday and cleaned the whole huge mess up! A few of them claimed some for winter firewood, and one fellow took giant trunks home to his saw mill in hope of one day making live-edge tables.

I thank God for his protection, and for the family of believers who help one another in these situations! I didn't sleep much that night, and was worried it would impact my ability to lead worship. Rather, God was present among us in a special way, and gave me the energy I needed to help direct us all into his presence, to give him the glory he so deserves!

Thank you, God!