The storm that was a catastrophic hurricane in New Orleans has reeked havoc in Westchester County, New York. The County got between seven to ten inches of rain. The result was extensive basement flooding, road and highway flooding, along with some power outages. There will be huge financial ramifications after all the damage that was done. This amount of rain is a once in a lifetime event that many including me have never experienced before. The speed and ferocity of this storm was terrifying. My husband called me in the midst of this terrible storm. He showed me the huge storm waters going through our property and our town. To this day, I can’t get those images out of my mind.
“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” - Psalm 55:8
I have not seen my husband struggling so much for a long time. It is hard for me to see him in any kind of struggle because he has always been so strong for me. He bares so much without complaint but, now with our approaching home sale and events such as Hurricane Ida heading towards our house, his patience and strength were severely taxed. There is so much going on in our world, and in our life that on any given day we are like acrobats juggling many balls in the air. I wanted to help him and with so much going on I felt my roll as my husbands “helpmate” was front and center.
“ A refuge from the storm”- in Isaiah 25:4 ( God is described as a refuge from the storm.)
With that in mind, contemplation and discussions of our faith began with the approaching storm. My husband stayed up the entire night to ensure that our house was bolstered against the deluge of water all around. He listened to ten hours of sermons and theological discourses to keep his spiritual focus strong. If I seem strangely absent, it is because I was. Dear readers, our search for a new home has ended. We have found a new place to call home. Although, in these days of struggles and hardships, I am reminded that this earth is not my home.
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waters beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”- Mark 4:37
I was not physically present in New York when tropical rain storm Ida hit that vicinity. I was beginning the process of cleaning and unpacking in our new home. Meanwhile, my husband handled the details of our house sale in New York.
Looking at numerous real estate listenings clarified where we were in our lives and what we each wanted. His and her visions coalesced after much soul-searching and in the end we chose a marvelous old house in a community that reflects our faith and political points of views much more than Westchester does. The terrible Chinese virus and all it’s variants have helped many including me to realize that it is time to do all that I can to make Jesus known to all those struggling. Knowing the fragility of life as I now do has made me want to seek more comfort among others who believe as I do that Jesus is the Lord.
“Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.”- Isaiah 29:6
In the end, we had a blessing in that the storm did not overrun our basement or damage our home in any way. It is a huge blessing because driving around our community after the storm showcased the immense damage reflected in the waterlogged rugs and furniture out on the street. Toys, and other items revealing the life and story of each home and their ruination.
“He maketh the storm a-calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”- Psalm 107:29
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