Storm stories

During my tenure in Louisiana, we endured five hurricanes in eight years. Lili, Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. They are etched into my memories, and certain aspects of each are unforgettable. I thought that I would be retired from hurricanes when I moved to the Mid Atlantic region. I guess not.

Despite the warnings of the meteorologists, we have fared well in Charles Town, with no major damage that I am aware of. To the east and north of us, that is not the case and many folks are in bad shape. To the west and south of us, they are digging out from a foot of snow. And with early warning, reasonable precautions for preparedness, and the resources of the federal government standing by, people still endure the storm, suffer damage, and slowly recover. We just cannot escape the storm.

My time on the Gulf Coast taught me to take hurricanes seriously. Get the emergency kit ready before hand, store up some drinking water, make sure you have batteries and milk. Kim and I did those things, and when our power went out for a couple of hours on Monday night, we had no panic or stress, but rather enjoyed a candlelight dinner and quiet conversation. With the wind and the rain outside, it was almost relaxing. Because we had prepared for it.

The whole things stands as a metaphor for life. I know that it is an old cliché to describe the storms of life, but it still holds true. Families face storms of illness, financial pressure, the loss of a loved one. Marriages face the storms of disagreement, confrontation, and sometimes betrayal. Businesses face the storms of competition, technology, and uncertainty in the market. We cannot escape the storms; we cannot totally evade the difficulties and challenges that life throws our way. But we can be prepared for them, and we can certainly survive and even thrive in the midst of them.

Proverbs 6 describes the wisdom of the ant, who plans ahead to ensure that supplies are laid up and life is prepared for the lean times to come. We use the same wisdom when we go to Wal-mart early and stock up on flashlights and soup. But even more significantly, we can be mentally and emotionally prepared for the storms of life.

By building a life of integrity and a reputation of character, you are well prepared from the day that people rise up to accuse you. If you have lived with honesty in your business and personal life, those who seek to ambush you will have little ground for their attack. By building a healthy marriage of mutual trust, faithfulness, and companionship, you are well prepared from the normal temptations and difficulties that will someday come your way.

If you fail to prepare for a hurricane, you are certain to be left in dire straits. No water, no lights, no relief in sight. It is a desolate place to be. Likewise, if you fail to prepare your life for mental or emotional conflict, you can easily be ruined and stranded.

Certainly, God is always with us as we face the difficulties of life, He is our ever present help in time of need. He will not abandon nor forsake His people, and we are well confident in his protection and grace as we face conflict. No doubt, no question. But it seems to me that he has given us a number of gifts to use for our own selves, that we would be well prepared for times of trial. He has given us a brain, to think ahead. He has given us experiences that we can use to shape our judgment with. He has given us His Word, to guide our relationships and decisions. He has given us the ability to choose well for ourselves. Ought we not use these gifts for our own well being?

On the news Tuesday, a woman from Atlantic City was being interviewed. She ignored the evacuation order of the governor, remained in her home, got flooded, had no food or power, and then was furious that she had not been rescued. Seemed odd to me. But in truth, we do the same sort of things when we blame God for the consequences of our own bad choices. Better that we would choose to prepare our lives by living well and thinking ahead. Then we can rejoice and enjoy peace in the midst of all the messes.

I am shattered. Crushed. Disappointed.

One of my heroes has apparently been exposed as a fraud and a cheat. I was inspired by Lance Armstrong. His story of surviving serious cancer, and not only surviving, but recovering to compete in the most demanding sporting event ever imagined. And not only to compete, but to win, and win seven times over. He was amazing.

But maybe not. I do not know him personally, and I confess to having no knowledge of the facts of his case. I am just saddened by it all, mostly by the man-crush that I carried for so long.

Integrity matters more than victories.
Character counts more than money.
Honesty in one's own soul is better than all fame in the world.