You may be asking yourself, what does the Corona Virus and Hurricane Florence have in common and why would it be worth my time to read this?
With crowds of people hoarding everything from lettuce to toilet paper and everything in between, it is reminiscent of living on the coast and getting ready for a hurricane. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence was predicted to hit our little town of Wilmington, NC as a possible Category 5. You can only imagine the fear this put in the lives of the residents along the coast. For people like us who were unable to evacuate due to a disabled loved one and no facility able to take us, we had to prepare for the worst much like what people are doing today with the Corona Virus.
While I was keenly aware of the possibility of losing every physical thing we owned and our lives on top of that, I found myself with a deep sense of peace. As I posted on social media about that peace, I got hundreds of comments and in the two years since, I’ve had people ask me to repost those entries. I never considered doing that until now. I see the fear in people’s lives due to this virus and the uncertainty of our future. I know from where my peace comes and I hope to instill a bit of that in you as you figure out how to move forward in this unsettled time. I realize the length of this entry is long but I hope you will read to the end. I believe you will find the peace and comfort you seek and as always, if you need me, I am here for you.
September 14, 2018
3:00 AM, no power and powerful winds outside. Beautiful yet dangerous. Reading all the many posts of friends I know and many I don’t expressing their fear over Hurricane Florence. Staying back and experiencing its hits or having left and not knowing what is happening to your home, your refuge and shelter either way the storm has evoked a plethora of emotions. I find myself at peace in the midst of this storm and I hope this will help you find peace as well. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah” (Psalm 46: 1-3 ESV). If you find yourself in need of encouragement, no matter what the hour, please call. I would love to share the Peace that passes all understanding with you.
September 16, 2018
It’s late, listening to the rain drown out the hum of generators up and down the street while beside me is the purring of Barry’s snores and across the hall I hear the moaning of my mom as she deals with her pain and the fear of the hurricane. Every few minutes another tornado warning coming through on my phone. So far two have hit within a couple streets of our home. Here comes another. The uncertainty can be frightening. I love the verse, 2 Cor 5:1 that says, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” As we practice the due diligence of doing everything we can to remain safe, my trust is in the Lord. As the old hymn says, “this world is not my home, I’m just passing through “ but I will do all He expects of me to preserve this temple; prayers for safety are much appreciated.
September 17, 2018
The air is still. hot. humid. Our windows are open but no air coming in. The windows in the bedroom across the hall are also open hoping to get a cross-breeze. But no, the air isn’t moving tonight. Something for which to be thankful? Wasn’t it just last night we prayed to our God who controls the wind and the waves to still the storm? Ah yes, prayers answered. Tonight, the familiar hum of generators is gone. Most on our street have run out of gas, others conserving the small amount they have left for daylight hours. What I do hear is the frogs and crickets singing their victory song. We’re back and praising God in chorus. Won’t you join us in raising our voices in thanks and praise? 1 Chronicles 16:34, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.”
September 19, 2018
Tonight as I sit here in the dark, it is not the familiar hum of generators that I hear, nor is it the crickets and frogs singing their victory song. No, tonight it is the hum of the air conditioning unit working to cool our house from days of hot air and humidity. Yes, the power is back on and as quickly as it went from dark to light, I’ve all but forgotten the “inconvenience” of being without power this past week. While here in the dark, life “feels” back to normal because it is cool and comfortable in our home; I can’t help but ask myself would I be singing the praises of God if a tree came through the roof of my kitchen as it did for a family member of a friend, or if it took out the roof of my dining room and water flooded my house in the thick of the storm as it did for my neighbor, or as with another friend, a tornado struck his house and did crazy, freaky damage. If I said yes, I would still be singing the praises of God, would you believe me, especially since I enjoyed God’s wonderful hand of protection? For those of you who have experienced the life transforming heart rescue of Jesus Christ you will say indeed! For those of you who haven’t experienced the joy of salvation, you may be reluctant to believe that anyone could praise God in the midst of such personal loss and hardship. In fact, you may be tempted to ask, where was God in the midst of that storm. Though I didn’t suffer terrible loss in this storm, I have suffered much personal loss over my lifetime and in those times of darkness and trouble, God has been my refuge and my strength. It is in these times of personal loss, of great hurt and grief that God has shown Himself to be my stronghold because of which, I shall not be shaken. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” (Paul’s response) “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Tonight, I want to encourage you whether you sit in darkness due to loss of power or due to the lateness of the hour, search your heart, listen for that still, small voice urging you to turn your life over to Him. He wants to rescue you from the darkness, He wants to calm your fears and more than anything, He wants to save you from your sin. Sitting here in the darkness I pray for you tonight asking God to draw your heart to His, to reveal Himself to you and for you to open your heart to Him, confess your sin and accept His salvation. He is the way, the truth and the life. Truly, He is the only One who can save you. Tonight may you find that Peace that passes all understanding.
September 20, 2018, 2018
Here I sit again in the dark, in the late hours of the night worshipping and praising God. As I meditate on this verse, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; for they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” I realize what a blessing He has given me in you, all of you who have written words of encouragement, sent cyber hugs and hearts, private messaged, texted, called, and prayed for our safety during this trial we have named Hurricane Florence. There are truly no words to express what this has meant to me, how my heart has been touched and my life changed by your love. It’s funny how we go through life, day to day living and doing what must be done, knowing that people care for us but never really knowing how much. God has used your outpouring of love to show me that I am not alone. That behind me are friends and family who care and pray for my wellbeing. I feel negligent in not realizing how loved and supported I am. Please know that I will not take that care for granted again. Know that when I thank God for the blessings He has put in my life, I will mention you by name to Him in my prayers; thanking Him for you and praying He draws you to His heart; asking Him to bring the same joy to you as you have brought to me. For now, I wish you safety for your body, Peace for your soul and joy for your heart. 1 Thes 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
September 21, 2018, 2018
4:33 in the morning. I’ve been sitting here for 3 hours. No, not in the dark, not listening to the sounds of a home at rest but rather sitting in the stark, bright light of an emergency examination room. Unable to shut my eyes and rest, I sit watching my mother soundly sleeping, breathing in and out unaware of the activity around her. It is not her heart as we thought it might be when we called 911. More likely the result of exhaling all the stress that comes from from being 82 and experiencing this dreadful storm and it’s aftermath. I am sure that there are many out there exhaling their own stress as they try to put their life back in order. At the same time, I am sure there are many more breathing in and holding their breath as Florence continues to ravage our town. With rivers cresting, floods continuing, and water blocking the way for many to get home, we look again to God praying for His perfect hand of protection. Psalm 57:1, “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.” Lord we pray that You would calm the spirits of Your children. That You would draw their eyes to You and not to the waters surrounding them, that You would knit their hearts to Yours quenching any doubt they may have of Your love for and care for them. I pray Lord, that you would reveal Yourself in such a way they could not resist claiming You for their own and taking refuge in the shadow of Your wings until this destruction passes by.
