A Week to Remember

At a rally yesterday, Michelle Bachman made the following statement: I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'

As can be expected, the left side of the media has picked that statement up and applied one more stroke of the brush in their attempt to paint the picture of a crazy woman.  On this one, I have to agree.  She is crazy if she thinks God has any more hope than I have that anyone can get a politician’s attention.

She is right, though.  God was certainly sending some messages this week.  I for one heard them.

I happened to come home early last Tuesday afternoon.  I fixed myself a snack and sat down on the couch to watch the Weather Channel and get the latest on hurricane Irene.  I had barely taken the first bite of a potato chip when the house began to shake.  For just an instant I thought a large plane was flying overhead.  When the shaking continued and picked up in intensity, I thought maybe the plane was looking for a better view and would soon fly through the living room window.  When it did, I planned to be the first in line for the lavatory because at this point in the shaking I was ready to pee my pants.

When the house started rocking like a charter boat on the Atlantic Ocean, and the floor began to gurgle like the bottom of a pan of boiling water, I no longer cared to guess what was about to plow through our house.  I only knew I had no intention of being there when it did. 

I guess it’s about 40 yards from the couch I was sitting on to the section of the front yard grass I was standing in when I decided I was safe enough to stop running.  I figure it took me about 4 seconds to get there, which means the Raiders are probably regretting their acquisition of Terrell Pryor and his collection of ill-gotten tattoos over me in the recent NFL supplemental draft.

My wife was a bit amazed that I reacted the way I did.  With sheer panic.  She mocked me the way the west coast mocked the entire east coast hours later when they discovered that a whole seaboard responded much like I did.  A tiny little 5.9 earthquake.  Such a small number, I guess, when you’ve road the waves of an earth rocked by 7’s and 8’s. 

I couldn’t help but enjoy the picture below that became the poster child of the west’s mockery:

DC Earthquake Devastation

The shaking eventually stopped.  Just in time to turn my attention back to hurricane Irene. 

Having ridden out many North Carolina hurricanes, the prospect of the approaching once in a century hurricane was a little more exciting than the threat of continued aftershocks from the earthquake.  I long ago came to respect these tiny storms that feed on the ocean until they transform into one of God’s greatest displays of power (at the risk of sounding like Michelle Bachman).  Although I put earthquakes very high on that list as well.

Ian got into the excitement.  He would see the hurricane pop up on the satellite images on television and call me in to see the them.  He was also afraid to go outside 5 days ahead of the storm because he was afraid the hurricane was going to get him.  Before he went to bed one night he suggested to Katie that hurricanes knock down houses with their hands. Apparently he thought they had human characteristics beyond their names.

The storm arrived on Saturday, just a day after Papa Hoss and Gigi arrived from Ohio.  Yes, there are some committed grandparents for you.  Battling earthquakes and hurricanes to see their grandchildren.

When it was all said and done, we lost power, and our town lost a lot of trees.  Our power was out for 12 hours, but many are still without it today.

I can’t help but think of my great grandparents who lived in the days pre-power.  It would astonish them, I imagine, to see what happens to our world today when we have massive power outages.  I told Katie on Sunday I was OK without power until next Saturday at 3:30 when Notre Dame opens their football season against South Florida.  I meant it.  I’m sure my great grandparents would find that notion equally astonishing.

I also can’t help but notice that when the power is restored, and I am able to watch the scenes unfold of the damages and tragedies left in the wakes of storms and earthquakes,  more so than in tranquil times, there are images of neighbors helping neighbors, politicians working together for the good of their respective communities, and a general attitude that places the value of life over the value of material possessions.

There was once a man who walked the earth and told us we are to love our neighbors.  I believe there are times when he feels a need to repeat that message.  This week I heard it loud and clear.

You Can’t Outrun a Hurricane.

Catching Hurricane Irene Drops

I Do Not Like Irene.  I do not like her here.  I do not like her there.  I do not like Irene anywhere!