Perspective: After the storm

7AM – 4/4/2012

 “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.  Psalm 46:1-3, 7

As the sun prepares to rise in the DFW area, I can’t help but to reflect on the events that transpired on yesterday afternoon.  I was sitting in a conference room reviewing batch jobs and table names with my IT co-workers as the first tornado touched down in Arlington.  We were unaware of the events that had taken place as we were so diligently focused on the matters at hand.  Within minutes the tornado sirens started to ring throughout the cities of Plano and Frisco and we were told to take the necessary precautions. 

We gathered in a larger conference room centrally located on the second floor of the office building, I looked around to see everyone on their cell phones.  What did we do before cell phones? Even with the threat of a tornado nearby, everyone was seemingly in good spirits. We hooked a projector to a laptop, so that the 20 to 25 people in the room could view the storm tracker.  As we listened to the meteorologist reporting on the destruction in Arlington and Lancaster, the chatter in the room slowly subsided.    The mood changed dramatically when the first images of the devastation were flashing before our eyes.  Everyone became quiet, still, and focused.  The reports that we had been reviewing earlier weren’t as important anymore.  The deadlines that were so crucial just hours before didn’t really matter.  We were literally in a life or death situation.  It’s amazing how things are put into perspective when we’re faced with possible danger.  Mothers began to call their children’s schools. Fathers tried to exit the ‘safe zone’ to get better reception on their cell phones in order to be available just in case their family tried to reach them.  I thought of my friends scattered around the city. I also remembered that I had forgotten my wallet at home.  All of my identification, credit cards, and passport were at my home.  I wasn’t concerned about the “stuff” in my house, but I didn’t want to be without my identification. For a moment there was fear in my heart, but it only lasted a moment.  “God has way too much for me to do.  I’m not going anywhere today.” I thought to myself. I made a quick call to my mother, texted my sister-n-law, and updated face book with my status as that was the best way to reach the majority of my loved ones. 

We spent another fifteen to twenty minutes or so in the room before we received the all clear.  As the doors opened and we were free to exit the room, several people made a mad dash for the front door. I, along with a few others, returned to my workstation to try and remember where I’d left off before the alarm began.

 

I left work at my normal time and started my long journey home.  As I approached the Galleria area, there was a huge dark cloud up above.  I was driving right into the storm.  I wasn’t afraid.  I mean what could I have done?  Again, I thought “Nope, not yet.”  So, as the traffic came to a halt on the toll way I snapped a few pictures of the sky.  “God is truly amazing and he’s not playing around.”  I thought to myself.   As we were stopped bumper to bumper the rain began to pour, but it only lasted for a short time. 

Before long we were moving with great speed.  I made it home around the same time that I normally would.  My home was completely intact.  No power lines were down and our water was flowing as usual.  I felt really blessed and calm.  In the mist of it all I was happy.  But within minutes my happiness turned to anger. 

I rushed in the house and found my wallet where I had left it the night before.  I then remembered that I had an overnight package being delivered.  I went back outside, jumped in my car, and drove up to the front office.  As I walked up to the door of the office, several other tenants were walking up and turning around abruptly.  The office was closed, but it was only 5:45.  They didn’t usually close until 6pm.  I peeped inside and I could see one of the office managers sitting at her computer.  “So, she’s just gonna sit there and watch me?”  I said to myself.   “What about my package?” There was a note on the door that read, “Due to inclement weather, the office is closed.”  I was heated. “Really?”  I protested while walking back to my car.  I’ve had a great deal of unfortunate incidents to occur while living on this property. My opinion, at that moment, was that my needs weren't being met.  “I pay way too much money not to get the customer service that I deserve.” I said slamming my car door.  I drove across the street to the super center.  I knew that my experience would be below par there, but nevertheless it was the only store within 10 or 15 miles.  I picked up a few items and made my way to the checkout counter.  There were only about four lanes open and they all were extremely long.  Again, I was heated.  I threw, yes threw, the groceries that I had so carefully picked up onto a nearby shelf and stormed out of the store.  In the parking lot, everyone decided to drive as if they were in a parade. I got back in the car, hit reverse, and took a long deep breath.  The devil had stolen my joy.  There were people who didn’t have a roof over their heads, lights to see how to get to one end of their home to another, or food for their children to eat.  And there I was grumpy because I wasn’t getting my way.

As soon as I got home, I went into my spiritual closet and ask God to forgive me for my behavior.  What had I been thinking? How could I be so selfish? He opened my eyes to see things in a completely different perspective.  Perhaps the office manager at my apartment complex was taking refuge at her place of employment because unlike me she didn’t have a home to go to.  Or perhaps only a few of the associates at the supercenter were able to make it in to work due to down power lines, trees, and other debris. 
And the people moving at a snail’s pace throughout the parking lot could have been still in shock from having just seen their entire neighborhood demolished.  

God definitely has a way to put things in perspective. The devil can swoop right in if we allow him to.  Our best defense is to always stay on guard.  Please pray for the families in the Dallas area who are beginning the long process of rebuilding.  And as we go back to our normal day-to-day lives, be ever ready.  Get your houses in order, for you know not the day nor the hour.

Be Blessed,

Christy-Ann