Column by Dr. Ann Hollingsworth
As Hurricane Ida rolled toward the southern coast of the United States on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, folks in Clarke County and southward remembered very well their experiences in Katrina and were preparing for a repeat. While we were blessed to get by with only some rain, Ida went on to exit out the Northeast corner of the United States. Ironically, Joe Biden’s home area probably got it worse than we did. This is just a reminder that God is still in control instead of the U.S. government.
In addition to the reminder of who is really in control, there are other reminders and ideas as well. One is that when times get crucial, the good in people can come out to help. As during Katrina, lines of power company vehicles were travelling the interstate between states to help restore power. I am sure that there are also ministry efforts like Eight Days of Hope and churches that are going on location to help.
Another reminder is to take time to slow down, rest, and appreciate the priorities in life such as provisions for basic survival and good friends, family, and neighbors. All ages from babes to seniors seem to be so frantically busy, that a day off from school or work seems to be a blessing regardless of the reason for the time off.
For me a strong reminder is also to be prepared to be self-sufficient as much as I can. That means having a way to keep and prepare food without the convenience of electricity, to have sources of light such as flashlights, and to have supplies and food extra enough to go a while without going to the store. I still remember the Y2K issues that we had to prepare for.
I am glad that Ida was easy on us, but am also thankful for the reminders that we still need once in a while.
