Two weeks ago, the ground literally shook beneath my feet. An earthquake measuring 7.0.

Would you like to know my biggest fear involving earthquakes?

Having to run into the street in a state of dishabille. (Definition of dishabille: the state of being only partly or scantily clothed.) Or in my case, no clothes.

Yep, I was stepping out of the shower when the quake hit. Now, most earthquakes start gently, and I patiently wait, judging if the tremor is getting stronger. Not this time. Because we were so close to the epicenter, there was no gentle shaking. Suddenly the earth violently jolted, things began falling, and I was in the middle of my worst fear.

I was naked in an earthquake.

Fortunately, my walls stayed intact, and I didn’t need to flee to the street and shock my neighbors with my state of dishabille. My outfit might not have matched, but I did find clothes and shoes before the first aftershock came along.

Two weeks later, as I gaze upon my city, I’m still amazed there were no fatalities or significant injuries. As a good friend of mine says, “Life is hard, but God is good.” Yes, God was good.

Two days ago, my earth rocked once again. Not literally, but figuratively.

One of my best friends unexpectedly died.

It was shocking. Horrible. How could this dear man pass so quickly from life to death?

When the doctors came to give the news to his wife, we immediately fell into each other’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Eventually, we sat down on a nearby bench.

And then, something amazing occurred.

This grief-stricken woman, my beautiful friend, lifted her hand to heaven, and through her sobs, with soft, barely understandable words, began praising God.

She didn’t praise God that her husband was dead. She praised God that her husband was no longer in pain. That her amazing husband was in the arms of Jesus, walking the streets of heaven. Thanking God that she’d known the love of a good man.

This moment is seared on my heart. The naked beauty of it shook me to the core.

In the Bible, in Luke 1, there is a story about another woman whose world trembled when an angel told her that she would be the mother of God’s son. Her name was Mary.

Mary’s reaction? Read it for yourself:

And Mary said,
I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
(Luke 1:46-55 The Message)

Mary praised God! She praised God for his mercy, his strength, his holiness, and for his promises.

She danced the song of her Savior God.

So, I am making an early New Year’s resolution.

When my world shakes, I will first turn to God in praise. Yes, eventually I may ask “Why?” and talk to God about my concerns. But first, I will praise Him.

I figure all the aftershocks will help reinforce a habit of praise. I’ll praise God that he protected me during the first earthquake and remember that He is in control of my world, even when it is shaking.

I will dance the song of my Savior God.