Or perhaps the Big Guy was telling me I had better get this done and get
it right or the next time it might be worse.

JOhn Rodgers

Roger Van Till wrote:
> I guess God's not a Presbyterian. Or he didn't like the communion
> ware. ;>)
>
> On Jun 16, 2006, at 12:01 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
>
>> Monday, June 12, 2006; 2:30 pm, Chelsea, AL
>>
>> *The Main Event:*
>>
>> I worked in my pottery studio today, fulfilling an order of communion
>> ware for the national Presbytery Conference happening here. Usual story,
>> seated on my throwing stool, potters wheel was wet, hands were wet and
>> on the wheel, some water on the floor, left foot on the wet spot. Being
>> engrossed in my work, I did not really notice nor pay attention to the
>> thunderstorm that had brewed up. Seated well back from the open barn
>> door � probably 15 feet or so - I just kept on working.
>>
>> Suddenly there was a tremendous thunderclap, and a large blue streak of
>> electricity zig-zagged across the floor from the door to where my foot
>> was in the puddle. There was a burst of blinding blue-white light as the
>> electrical energy of the lightening entered my foot and traveled up my
>> body through my left leg and trunk, out my arms and to the wheel and to
>> a ground. In a split second I was slammed against the wall four feet
>> behind the potter�s wheel. I slid to the floor, stunned, unable to move,
>> talk, or open my eyes.
>>
>> Others in the shop with me called 911 and the Chelsea Fire Department
>> Paramedics came to the rescue. They checked me out on the spot. I slowly
>> came around, but as a precaution an ambulance arrived which transported
>> me to the Birmingham VA Hospital Emergency Room for a more thorough
>> checkup. After several hours I was released and seem to have had no ill
>> effects but I go for a follow up checkup in a week.
>>
>> *The rest of the story:*
>>
>> When I returned home, I found in ruins beside my shop my favorite tree
>> in the yard��a big towering red oak tree that had stood for many years
>> and is a main food tree for the squirrels in the area. Lightening had
>> struck the tree and it had exploded �.. splitting major limbs, and
>> blasting chunks of bark, wood, leaves, and twigs out in a forty foot
>> radius from the tree. Long 4 inch wide strips of bark were peeled
>> vertically from the limbs and trunk as the electrical energy traveled
>> the tree trunk.
>>
>> Unknown to me at the time, three others in my studio had also received a
>> jolt, but not nearly so bad, since they were standing on dry concrete
>> and had on rubber bottom tennis shoes. But it was enough of a jolt to
>> make them quite animated for a few moments.
>>
>> We were all very lucky, especially me.
>>
>> In the future, during a lightening storm, I will work on no machines and
>> have no damp feet. I am going to retire to a quiet place in the middle
>> of the house, sit on a wood chair on a wooden floor, wear my tennis
>> shoes and read a book!!!!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> Chelsea, AL
>>
>
>