As you well know, there was a hurricane that swept through the East Coast this past weekend. Here's my storm story…
My journal entry on Friday August 26, 2011 at approximately 2:00 PM – Dagsboro, DE…
"I lay here on this swinging bench under my grandparent's high-rise deck. In front of me stands about 10 feet of grass, cut off by a wooden barricade. There is a technical term for this barricade. I have no idea what it is. Beyond this point lies 1/8 mi. of wetlands – – marshy, swampy, strikingly high grass in large pools of water. Then there is the Indian River Bay. The bay is still now – it's that creepy "calm before the storm" sensation. Just to my left across a tiny canal is a row of smaller homes. Men conversing about Irene and loading up trucks outside. Hello Hurricane. The grandparents, Jeff, and I are about to make the "long" trek North."
From the swinging bench!
I'm not going to lie…I was a bit scared. I mean, the broadcasted news of Irene was pretty frightening. But this was more of an anxious-excited scared. There wasn't too much fear to be held. I wanted to stay and wait out the storm…see the water rise to outrageous levels, but Gov. Markell issued a state of emergency. Those 3/4 mi. from water were mandated to evacuate.
So, I spent that day helping my Grandmom (Arlene Bailor- Natural Light Studios (= ) "waterproof" and put up all her artwork. We packed up all her originals and family photos to take along with us.
My Grandpop brought his boat in from the pier. Strapping down/bringing in lawn furniture and fixtures, packing up the cooler, collecting flashlights, batteries and cookstoves. Most of the rest of LSD (Lower Slower Delaware) was doing the same.
Gas station line near Bethany Beach
So, we headed North to my parent's house. I enjoyed the ride immensely. Sitting in the back of my Grandpop's pick-up doing a crossword, occasionally looking up to see an evolving purple, pink and orange sunset. There was also 60's music playing…ya know…The Temptations, The Drifters…those sort of sounds.
Everything was pretty much fine. 24 hours inside and a few roof/window leaks are really nothing to fret over. Everything at my Grandparent's house down near the water wound up being dandy as well.
All this build up.
Ok, so the title of this song is "Hurricane," but I got to thinking about many of the lyrics as the howling winds of Irene were rolling in.
Needtobreathe – Hurricane Music Vid
Some phrases that struck me that parallel to my current journey…
"We plead with time to change the rules"
"You play the victim here – You know it's nothing but your pride and fear"
Before I turn this into an emo, lyrical blog post, let me add a few of my own words:
I suppose you could say that I despise time. TIME. I feel as if time is slipping out of my finger tips. I try to grab a hold of my days, all the while continuing to waste them. People on the outside would say that I don't waste my time. I do awesomely fun things. I try to squeeze every morsel out of daylight for the most part and yearn to live to the fullest. What is it all worth if it's not for the Kingdom?
I plead with time. Sometimes I wish I could go back a few years. I know, I'm only 23. Oh, but do I have regret. I am trying to get rid of this regret. It will go…I know it will…as long as I keep running after Him.
I play victim. Enough said. I could expound, but I think I'll refrain.
My life feels like a hurricane. I know I'm not the only one. I think I don't let silly things get to me. I try to live simply. And they still get to me. And life still seems complicated.
John 15.
This passage has come up COUNTLESS times within the past month or so. I could attempt to list all the places I've seen and heard this Scripture as of late, but the list would go on forever.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesa] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
It goes on…
I want to bear this fruit that Jesus speaks of.
Do you, friends? I know we'll never be perfect, so let's stop trying to aim for perfection! Rather, let's let our Father and only true friend make us like Him.
That old hymn…"Just a Closer Walk With Thee…"
Another verse that I've been pondering…
Psalm 130:6 "My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."
Peace and Love, friends.
Mariss.
This post doesn't really tie together. I tried. 🙂 Oh well. Hopefully you enjoyed/were encouraged by my ramblings. I am off to get another shot. 1 week until launch!!
