INSPIRASUNS

Well, timing is everything they say, although I’m not sure about this timing. Two years ago yesterday I wrote a post in this little blog. It was titled, “The Calm Before the Storm” and you can read it here. I was talking about the impending arrival of Hurricane Ian. Little did I know back then just how much damage it would do. It was a devastating storm, and even today, two years later some homes are still not rebuilt.

There are images of Ian that I will never forget. Yes, some of those images are of the mounds of mud, sand, and “muck” that filled homes and streets. Images of the thousands of pounds of items from homes just sitting on the side of the road for debris carriers to haul away will remain in my memory banks. More importantly, though the images of a community that wrapped arms of love around each other are filled in my mind when I think of Ian. Volunteers came from all over the country to help. Within our own community, strangers began the clean-up process helping people they had never met.  Friendships were formed, hearts were healed and buildings were restored. Those are the images I focus on after one of the worst disasters we’ve seen.

Now here we are exactly two years later and we’re looking at Helene”.  She’s a monster of a storm, and there is definitely some deja vu happening. Though SW Florida will not be taking the major hit we did with Ian, our neighbors to the north will for sure. As I mentioned yesterday, my hope is that everyone is heeding the warnings on this one. The flooding could be some of the worst ever seen in some of the impacted areas.

Like Ian, I’m sure there will be images that come out focusing on the destruction that Hurricane Helene will inflict.  However, I also know that there will be more important images of communities and God’s children coming together to help each other. I hope those are the images that everyone focuses on. I hope those are the images that will remain in the hearts of those affected by this storm.

Friends, please lift prayers for those in the path of this storm, not just in Florida but in the surrounding northern states. As I said, she’s a big one and she will be moving quickly once in the gulf. So our neighbors will feel this too. Those of you in the path, please listen to your local officials, and follow their instructions. Then, when she’s passed through, be there for each other. Together we, children of the Father, will get through this.

Be safe everyone, the next few days are gonna be bumpy for many.

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.