Last Monday morning, I was meeting online with my boss in Europe as the winds were starting to pick up. Later that morning, I sent a mass email out asking for some information, and several workers throughout Europe asked how I was and were praying as Hurricane Irma was making news worldwide. I had to break early afternoon when we finally lost Internet, just in time for the tornado warnings, something we thankfully don't get very often where I'm from.
As you probably know, despite some record-setting flooding that did devastate areas of downtown and some beaches as well as the expected power outages and loss of trees, we actually escaped the path of the hurricane itself, experiencing "only" tropical storm conditions. In other words, we were spared much wrath.
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| Battery Downtown Not a personal photo, taken from Time Magazine ;) |
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| Personal Photo this time :) One of many boardwalks that didn't make the storm :( |
As the next few days have been characterized by checking on others, cleaning up, and catching up, there has been a strong sense of gratitude in many a local heart especially considering those in the islands and Florida as well as Texas and Louisiana. I think it's a combination of our last two years of flooding, Harvey, memories of Hugo, and the uncharacteristic nature of this storm, but this hurricane had our attention. And I think anything to that degree should cause us to look to One who has power over nature for help.
As we get back to life as normal, I can't but help think of the storms of life that many of us or around us face, but also the fruit of these storms. They shake things up. This results in the trees and branches that are rotting, weaker, or are not firmly rooted to end up with piles of debris on the side of the road. And I think it's the same in our own lives: when the storms of life come, they also shake us until that which is firmly rooted remains. How crucial it is that we root ourselves in the Lord who is a sure foundation, the One who is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Jesus taught those who follow Him that "...everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." In light of the havoc and ruin we've witnessed from physical storms, I hope we'll take Jesus' words seriously for the metaphorical ones as well.
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| People weren't the only ones who were ready to get back out Tuesday. Lots and lots of butterflies! |
And while the Lord is so kind and good to instruct us on how to survive the trials of life, may we also acknowledge when He, in His mercy and kindness, spares us from the "storms" that are headed our way, like we literally experienced here in South Carolina.
