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Themes: "Opportunity, Gift of God needs to be Accepted, Limited Time Offer JD "Mr. Truman, you really should pack your stuff and leave. It is too dangerous for you to be this close."
Harry Truman was 84 years old. He had lived near Spirit Lake for over 50 years. He owned and operated a lodge that was normally filled with tourists. Spirit Lake was at the base of a mountain that the Klickitat Indians called "Tah-one-lat-clah" or "Fire Mountain." Back in 1792, an explorer named the mountain Mount St. Helens after a British ambassador.
Three months before, Truman reluctantly rented rooms to a group of scientists. They had come to examine Mount St. Helens, the most active volcano in the continental United States.
Truman enjoyed the area. The wild animals were numerous and the vegetation was beautiful. He knew the area like few others.
The scientists set up seismometers which measure earthquakes. The government, journalists and tourists wanted to know when the volcano was going to blow.
Everything seemed calm. However, by mid-March, scientists reported trouble was boiling deep within the earth.
On March 27, 1980, the mountain belched steam four miles into the air. Scientists assured everyone "she was just clearing her throat." Evacuation plans were finalized.
News reports told the story of Harry Truman. He was convinced it would not erupt. He assured everyone he had a stash of food and water in an old mine shaft nearby, just in case. People from all over bombarded him with letters pleading with him to leave.
A new crater developed at the top of the mountain and blue flames shot out the side. By April 30, the north side of the mountain bulged out 323 feet like a bad spot on a bicycle tire. The authorities notified everyone within a 10 mile "red zone" to evacuate immediately.
Mr. Truman, listened as police and scientists pleaded with him. Calmly, he responded, "I won't be leaving. I know you have made a lot of hullabaloo about this mountain. But, I still don't believe it is gonna blow. Besides, I've lived here long enough that this mountain wouldn't dare blow up without my permission."
At 8:27 a.m. on May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens exploded. Four hundred million tons of dust and ash shot into the sky. The explosion was heard 200 miles away. Snow and ice on top of the mountain melted into 46 billion gallons of water. This mixed with ash and mud and the 800 degree mudflow raced down the mountainside at 100 miles per hour.
The blast destroyed 100 square miles of trees and two million birds, fish, and animals. Sixty-one people were killed. Harry Truman was one of them. The north side of the mountain blew out and he was buried instantly. He procrastinated leaving, until it was too late.
Putting off getting to safety can be fatal. You need to be saved from the coming wrath of God - NOW! Tomorrow may be to late. "Behold NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
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Peter Orasuk
