“When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was not dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.” —John 6:16-21.
Sixteen years ago, on September 16, Hurricane Ivan made a direct hit on the town of Orange Beach along the Alabama Gulf Coast near the Florida line. There were twenty-five deaths in the United States, including fourteen in Florida. This category-three storm caused major destruction to an area that had become our family’s beloved vacation spot for years.
My heart goes out to the people on the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts who later were visited by Hurricane Florence and so many more since then. I remember the days of looking at any picture that might show if our special place had been destroyed. It was weeks before we were able to return to our condo on the fourth floor and go inside to survey the damage.
We hardly recognized the building. Huge parts of the front facade were gone. Every condo on the first floor had been destroyed by wind and water. Two large glass doors had blown out of the condo, and furniture had been blown out of the gapping, exposed spaces. The elevators were, of course, not functioning; so it was a major trek up and down the stairs, once we figured out where they were. We made multiple trips to dispose of the rotting food left in the refrigerator.
My clearest memory is of the disorientation we experienced when so many of the familiar markers were gone. Besides the damage to the front of our condominium, street signs were gone, familiar buildings had disappeared, and parts of the roads were destroyed so that we had to take detours through even more unfamiliar places.
Such a natural disaster is a reminder of what happens when we face major emotional crises or significant changes in our personal lives—such as the death of a loved one, a life-threatening illness, a divorce, a move, or even a new job. At such times, all of our usual markers can disappear. We may become disoriented. Decisions can become agonizingly difficult to make. It is sometimes hard to find our way. Often it is as though we are in a foreign country, and the people around us are speaking a language we have never heard before.
It is important to recognize this state of mind, to take care of ourselves, and to be open to receiving help. If we try to white-knuckle it and get through the crisis alone, the burden often becomes intolerable. My experience is that recovery comes and normalcy returns with the blessed support and help of friends and community.
Joanna joannaseibert.com
Book Signing TODAY Wordsworth Books
Saturday, November 2, 2019 1 to 3 pm
Just in time for the holidays
A Spiritual Rx for Advent Christmas, and Epiphany
The Sequel to A Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter
Both are $18. Money from sale of the books goes to Camp Mitchel Camp and Conference Center in Arkansas or Hurricane Relief in
The Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
