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"Even if our efforts [...] seem for years to be producing no result,
one day a light that is in exact proportion to them will flood the soul."
My husband and my brother have been walking levees, and tonight, they (along with the rest of the National Guard there) are helping to evacuate a town that has become too unsafe for the residents to stay any longer. The river water has been rising for days, but many of the people there decided to hold on as long as they possible could. In a news story a couple days ago, there was a woman in that town that stood in front of her home, shaking her head. "They're going to have to take me away in handcuffs, because I'm not leaving."
I didn't understand. Her world was literally about to be washed away. The waters were going to rise above her steps, slowly pooling into the house until it was completely overtaken by water. Everything would be submerged. Everything would be gone. What is worth clinging to that much? What is worth staying for?
And then I thought about this past year. I thought about this home. I thought about how it felt like I was being dunked deep below black waters, and how I couldn't breathe or see even a glimmer of sunlight. I thought about how I've spent the past year holding my breath, grasping for anything that would bring me to the surface and light again. I hoped against hope that, somehow, I would be rescued and put back into a warm, familiar place. And I thought about the laugh we shared before he left, and how it felt like we had survived a massive storm.
I think, now, I understand that women.
6 kind comments from you:
oh wow, i can't even imagine what it would be like to suffer that kind of destruction. that poor lady along with so many others :(
I can't even begin to comprehend how some of these people survive all of these storms and tragedies. I hope that they all soon find a safe place to call home again.
the things you write are so thought-provoking.
they say home is where the heart is--but i imagine a whole lot of that woman's heart was a part of that home. and now i can see you feel the same way. we were created for home and for some, to lose it would be like losing everything you are.
beautifully written. thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Wow, that was such a powerful post. Thanks for sharing.
I'm so thankful you have a positive attitude about your husband being gone. He's helping so many people (I assume, lol) and being a genuine blessing I'm sure. I know that last year my hometown flooded REALLY bad and it was a long time before anyone got help. I'm sure the people he's helping are very thankful for his presence although they don't want to leave their homes. And I'm thankful for his service just in general.
wow.
the weather is so crazy down south!
i'm not sure i'd do so well with the freakouts that happen all the time. not that everyone else *does* do well with them.....
i love this post.
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